Objective: Individuals with mental illnesses have been reported to face prejudices and stigmatization by the society. It has been suggested that language and expressions have a place in stigmatization and emphasized that mental health professionals have a great responsibility to fight against stigmatization. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the use of labeling and stigmatizing language for mental illnesses among mental health professionals as well as their beliefs regarding mental illnesses.
Method: Participants were asked to complete a sociodemographic data form, a questionnaire about the use of stigmatizing language for mental illnesses and the beliefs toward Mental Illness Scale.
Results: A total number of 103 forms were collected and 95 of them were included in evaluation. Psychiatrists had less stigmatizing beliefs than other mental health professionals. Sociodemographic features and a family history of psychiatric illness had no effect on stigmatizing attitudes, though participants who suffered from a psychiatric illness had less stigmatizing attitudes. “Insane” and “mentally ill” were identified as the most stigmatizing expression, whereas “psychiatric disorder” and “mental health problems” have been found as the least stigmatizing ones. The terms “dotard” and “junkie” have been found as the most humiliating/insulting expressions by participants. There was no difference with regard to use of stigmatizing language between groups.
Conclusion: Stigmatization is a significant factor affecting social engagement, interpersonal and occupational functioning, and treatment and care processes of individuals with mental illnesses. Stigmatization can be seen also among mental health professionals. Considering the importance of language and expressions in stigmatization, studies and interventions in this field might contribute to reduce stigmatization.
Amaç: Ruhsal bozukluğa sahip bireylerin toplum tarafından önyargıyla karşılandığı ve damgalandığı belirtilmektedir. Damgalamada, kullanılan dilin ve ifade biçimlerinin önem taşıdığı düşünülmektedir. Damgalamayla mücadelede ruh sağlığı çalışanlarına büyük görev düştüğü vurgulanmıştır. Çalışmamızda ruh sağlığı çalışanlarında ruhsal hastalıklara yönelik etiketleyici ve damgalayıcı dilin kullanımı ile ruhsal hastalıklara yönelik inançları incelemek amaçlanmıştır.
Yöntem: Çalışmamızda ruh sağlığı çalışanlarından sosyodemografik veri formu, Ruhsal Hastalıklara Yönelik Damgalayıcı Dilin Kullanımı Anket Formu ve Ruhsal Hastalığa Yönelik İnançlar Ölçeğini doldurmaları istenmiştir.
Bulgular: Toplanan 103 formdan 95’i değerlendirmeye alınmıştır. Psikiyatristlerin diğer ruh sağlığı çalışanlarına göre daha az damgalayıcı inançlara sahip olduğu saptanmıştır. Sosyodemografik özellikler ve ailede psikiyatrik hastalık öyküsü, damgalayıcı tutumlar açısından belirleyici olmamış, psikiyatrik hastalık geçirenlerde damgalama daha düşük bulunmuştur. “Akıl hastası” ve “ruh hastası” en damgalayıcı, “psikiyatrik rahatsızlık” ve “ruhsal sorunlar” en az damgalayıcı ifadeler olarak belirtilmiştir. “Bunak/bunamış” ve “maddeci” ise katılımcılar tarafından en aşağılayıcı/küçültücü bulunan ifadeler olmuştur. Damgalayıcı dilin kullanımı açısından gruplar arasında fark bulunmamıştır.
Sonuç: Damgalama ruhsal hastalığa sahip bireylerin toplumsal uyumunu, kişilerarası ve mesleki işlevselliklerini bozan, tedavi ve bakım süreçlerini etkileyen önemli bir etkendir. Damgalama ruh sağlığı çalışanlarında da görülebilmektedir, Kullanılan dilin ve ifade biçimlerinin de damgalamada önem taşıdığı göz önünde bulundurularak, bu alanda yapılacak çalışmaların ve girişimlerin damgalamayı azaltmada katkı sağlayacağı düşünülebilir.
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