Mental health stigma and gender disparity regarding attitudes toward seeking mental health treatment in Ireland

Mullally, Aisling (2021) Mental health stigma and gender disparity regarding attitudes toward seeking mental health treatment in Ireland. Undergraduate thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

Aims: The current study sought to provide a greater understanding of stigma and attitudes toward mental health services within an Irish context. This study examined how perceived public stigma and personal stigma may be related with lower intentions of seeking mental health treatment; if males reported higher perceived public stigma; and if females have more favourable attitudes toward mental health services.

Method: An online survey was administered to participants (n= 445) through social media via a snowball sampling technique. The survey consisted of three scales; the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale, the Devaluation-Discrimination Scale and the Adapted Personal Stigma Scale. These scales consisted of likert-type statements by which the participant was asked to agree or disagree with.

Results: Results indicated that both perceived public stigma and personal stigma were related with lower intentions with seeking mental health treatment. Both variables were found to predict treatment intentions to a statistically significant level. Additionally, females were found to have significantly more favourable attitudes toward utilising mental health services compared to males. However, contrary to previous literature, males were not found to have significantly higher levels of perceived public stigma.

Conclusion: The findings of this study provide a greater insight to the stigmatising attitudes held among Irish adults. Future directions may benefit from the government adopting policies following international recommendations to tackle the issues stated within the study.

Item Type:	Thesis (Undergraduate)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > Psychology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA790 Mental Health
Divisions:	School of Business > BA (Honours) in Psychology
Depositing User:	Clara Chan
Date Deposited:	13 Aug 2021 11:15
Last Modified:	16 Sep 2021 15:44
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/4957

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