Schizophrenia and stigma : mental health professionals' perspectives

Abstract

This dissertation adopts a qualitative approach to explore the perspectives of psychiatrists and social workers with regard to schizophrenia and stigma. Six individual semi-structured interviews with psychiatrists and social workers who work or used to work in the mental health field and who have experience working with individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia were conducted, in order to understand the impact that stigma has on individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia through the professionals’ perspectives. Furthermore this dissertation also assesses the problem of stigma associated with schizophrenia in Malta and the reasons why such stigma exists; determines the psychiatrists’ and social workers’ perceptions of schizophrenia; and investigates the propositions for diminishing stigma. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed and the results from these interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings of this study suggest that individuals with schizophrenia are severely affected by stigma in the local context, to the extent that their recovery from the condition is hindered. Findings also suggest that the present lack of knowledge towards schizophrenia and other mental health disorders in Malta leads to misconceptions and myths among the public. Stigma from mental health professionals was not found to be present, however stigma from professionals outside the mental health field was rather significant. Finally, findings show that the roots of stigma in Malta are fabricated in the failure to provide mental health literacy to the public and also due to a general lack of investment in mental health services in Malta.