The Relationship between Stigma of Psychiatric Illness and Self-Esteem among Mentally Ill Patients

Abstract

Back ground: Mental illness is a medical condition that disrupts a person's thinking, bevavior, feeling and mood. Internalized stigma is defined as patients' feelings of embarrassment and shame about having a mental and psychiatric illness. Aim of the study: the present study aimed to identify the relationship between internalized stigma and self-esteem among mentally ill patients. Research design: a descriptive research design was utilized in the study. Setting: the study was conducted at Outpatient psychiatric Clinic in Al-Fayoum General Hospital. Sample: a purposive sample of (218) from psychiatric patients. Data collection tools: three instruments were used for collecting the data I: socio-demographic and clinical data sheet, II: Internalized Stigma of mental illness scale and III: Rosenberg self-esteem scale. Results: the results of this study showed that, nearly to three-fifths of studied patients' were males, nearly to two-fifths of studied patients' were illiterate and nearly to four-fifths of studied patients' didn't work. There was negative correlation between internalizing stigma and self-esteem. There was statistically significant between total internalized stigma scale with age, job and educational level. Conclusion: the Patients with psychiatric and mental illness had internalized stigma.  Recommendation: this study recommented that developing strategies and providing program to fight internalized stigma among mentally ill patients at outpatient psychiatric clinics.