Stigma and Psychological Help-Seeking Among Caregivers of Individuals with Chronic Mental Illness
Stigma and Psychological Help-Seeking Among Caregivers of Individuals with Chronic Mental Illness

Summary/Abstract: The treatment of mental illness requires the development of an individualized treatment plan, and the implementation of this plan necessitates collaboration between mental health professionals and caregivers. In the care process for chronic mental illnesses, caregivers must contend with numerous challenges, including taking on new responsibilities, experiencing deterioration in social relationships, feeling inadequate, facing stigma, and encountering financial difficulties. Not only patients but also caregivers are exposed to stigma in the fight against illness and are affected by the various negative consequences of stigma. Stigma is known to be one of the factors that prevent people from seeking help and participating in psychological support services. Individuals who stigmatize themselves and fear social stigma do not seek psychological support even when they need it, and this situation leads to delays in necessary intervention and the chronicity of their problems. Interventions designed to prevent stigmatization will facilitate individuals' access to resources for psychological help, enabling them to reach solutions earlier. This review aims to examine the stigma and psychological help-seeking behaviors of caregivers of individuals diagnosed with chronic mental illness in line with the literature. Thus, the assessment of this situation experienced by caregivers will enable the planning of interventions aimed at combating stigma and increasing individuals' help-seeking behaviors.

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