Study sheds light on stigmas suffered by teens with mental illnesses

Washington, May 26 (ANI): Much is known about the stigmas suffered by adults with mental illnesses, but with the increasing numbers of youth diagnosed and taking medications for mood disorders, researchers have now looked at stigmas experienced by teens with mental illnesses.

In one of the first studies of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 with mental illnesses and taking medications, researchers from Case Western Reserve University Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences found that at least 90 percent of the study’s participants reported experiencing some form of stigma. It has led to shame, secrecy and limiting social interactions.

Forty adolescents in the study reported that the attitudes of parents and schools either protect against or magnify the youth’s feelings of being different or ashamed that they have a mental illness.

Much is known about the stigmas suffered by adults, but researchers wanted to determine how similar or different the adolescent experience is from the adult one.

Individuals, young and old, with mental illnesses suffer from public and self-stigmas. The researchers were concerned about how the youth internalized the public discrimination, or stereotyping of their illnesses, and if these stigmas experienced at a young age might impact the individuals as adults.

Parents were found to be either positive or negative key players in buffering their child against these stigmas by helping them lead a normal life or they can contribute to the youth’s feelings of being different.

"Parents, who embrace and love their children for whom they are and accept the illness as part of their child’s being, help their children overcome these stigmas," said Derrick Kranke, the lead author said.

Besides parents, the researchers found that the school environment can have devastating effects upon the youth if they feel ostracized by their peers and teachers. The ostracism can lead youths to drop out of school, or worse, commit suicide. (ANI)

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