Study Mental Illness Stigmatization Study

[anthony]

Posted on behalf of:

My name is Dr. David Vogel. I am a Full Professor of Counseling Psychologist at Iowa State University ([DLMURL]http://www.psychology.iastate.edu/~dvogel/[/DLMURL]).

The stigmatization of people with mental illness is widespread in our society. This stigma has been shown to reduce self-esteem, rob people of social opportunities, and prevent people who would benefit from mental health services from seeking care. Accurate measurement of this stigma is an essential part of the high-quality research upon which effective anti-stigma social-marketing campaigns are built.

I am conducting an online research survey study on the validity of a new scale designed to accurately measure the stigma surrounding mental illness, and how this stigma impacts individuals’ willingness to seek help from a mental health professional.

This study is being conducted with the permission of the Iowa State University Office of Responsible Research (IRB# 11-265; http://www.compliance.iastate.edu/irb/) and according to the ethical guidelines of the American Psychological Association (Link Removed).

I would like to invite the PTSD Forum members to confidentially participate in this survey study, which can be viewed here: With a show of force and prayer, London fights back

I’m happy to answer any questions or address any concerns you have!

Thank you for taking the time to consider my request,
David

**********************
David Vogel, Ph.D
Department of Psychology
Iowa State University
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[Deaf Global Nomad]

I would say that this is a very interesting study. It does not take much time and I think will help destigmatize mental illness if applied...

FYI: the first question seems to have the numbers in the question and the answers reversed.

 

[Srain]

I just took the study too and for some reason I'm starting to get a migraine :cautious:. Could be all the memories I have stored up from when I went from languishing in a Dx of Depression to all sorts of MI diagnosis that freaked out my community and made me an untouchable and someone that was a "thing" not a person anymore. So all the questions certainly brought those images up for me.

Great survey, important one!

Rain

 

[anni]

I took it also. I'm sure there's a reason they kept inserting the same question 18 times but all that did was distract the PTSD head-hee! 'Am I doing this correctly? What if I gave a different answer last time Holy Hell I can't remember! ". Then the backward way some of the questions were asked was also tough for the PTSD head- I have enough trouble with making sure I indeed turn left at the stop sign when I'm supposed to.That doesn't sound like it makes sense but you'll see. :) These are professionals, however so possibly it's also been built into the study.

I AM wondering if the contributions from PTSD sufferers will sort of stick out like the proverbial sore thumbs.

 

[Lucycat]

I have just completed this survey. However, it is not designed to be international IMHO.

It keeps asking about seeking help from a psychologist, but does not mention other therapists. I am receiving regular therapy, but from a CPN ( Community Psychiatric Nurse) in the UK. He is fully trained and registered, is a specialist in trauma and does EMDR. However my answers all make it look as if I am not interested in receiving any help, because I will not be seeing a PSYCHOLOGIST in the next 3 months.

I found it immensely frustrating, although do appreciate its intention.

Reducing the stigma is definately a good aim.

 

[Ladyhope Somerset]

Having my own mental health issues, I went into the survey but couldn't complete it. Perhaps that's an indication that my head's not in such a good place at the moment.

 

[cat]

I' ve completed the survery, however, did anyone else who has already had therapy find it hard to answer. I wasnt sure whether to give my answers for before or after therapy.

 

[missd84]

I took it too. Anni, I thought the same thing about asking the same question over and over. I like the aim of the study and would be interested in finding out the results. Cat, I did find some of the questions hard to answer. I just answered how I feel now. If I did it wrong, oh well.

 

[Srain]

I have just completed this survey. However, it is not designed to be international IMHO.

It keeps asking about seeking help from a psychologist, but does not mention other therapists. I am receiving regular therapy, but from a CPN ( Community Psychiatric Nurse) in the UK. He is fully trained and registered, is a specialist in trauma and does EMDR. However my answers all make it look as if I am not interested in receiving any help, because I will not be seeing a PSYCHOLOGIST in the next 3 months.

I found it immensely frustrating, although do appreciate its intention.

Reducing the stigma is definately a good aim.

I didn't think about that Lucycat, but that's very true and excellent point, I'm such an Ugly American :speechless:! I always head towards the psychologist if I have insurance available because their training is much easier to find documentation on.

 

[Vogellab]

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to log in and respond to a few of the comments/questions that were posed. By the way, I appreciate your willingness to complete the survey. I apologize for its seeming redundancy!

Deaf Global Nomad-- thank you for pointing that out. We've revised the answer choices accordingly.

Lucycat -- good point about CPN's. As someone in the field of psych, our primary focus has been on seeking help from psychologists, rather than from other mental health professionals more generally. We hope to account for more mental health professionals in future surveys!

Cat - however you answered it is just fine, though I'd recommend that those who have not yet taken it answer the questions in regards to their current (rather than past) state of mind.

Thanks everyone! :)
- David

 

[SpokaneSunshine]

I appreciate the studies that people try to do. I tried to take the test, but like so many of the other studies that have been linked here, I found it to be a bit too lengthy and repetitive to finish. My focus just isn't what it used to be. Sorry.

 

[who am i kim]

I had to think about my answers with agree to strongly disagree, it was a little hard for me and mind distracting. Glad that i could offer my contribution. :)