Mental illness stigma as a barrier to psychosocial services for cancer patients.
Empirically validated psychosocial interventions have been shown to improve adjustment and coping among cancer patients. Therefore, an emerging standard of practice is to integrate supportive services for cancer patients into the medical management of the disease. However, unanticipated barriers may negatively influence receptivity to psychosocial services. For example, among the general population, two-thirds of individuals in need of psychiatric services do not receive them. Numerous barriers have been reported that interfere with receipt of mental health services among members of the general population. In addition to access issues, stigma associated with mental illness and its treatment represents a significant barrier to care. Stigma associated with mental illness and mental health services use is an under-researched barrier to the effective management of the psychosocial sequelae of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. This article reviews the relevant literature on mental health stigma and makes recommendations for increasing access to psychosocial services for cancer patients and their families.
Matthews
Alicia K
AK
University of Chicago, Department of Psychiatry, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, MC 3077, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA. Amatthew@yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu
Corrigan
Patrick W
PW
Rutherford
Judith Lee
JL
D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011287:Prejudice; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*