Sofiene Ben Aissa

Conference 2024 Hot-Doc

Talk Title

Breaking the silence: Unveiling mental health stigma among Tunisia’s youth

Authors and Affiliations

Sofiene Ben Aissa1, Amine Larnaout 1, Khouloud Razki2, Chiama Najar 2, Wahid Melki1
1. Department of Psychiatry D, Razi hospital, Tunisia
2. Department od psychiatry A, Razi Hospital, Tunisa

Abstract

Background

Stigmatization and discrimination are common experiences for individuals grappling with mental illness. Our research sought to evaluate the elements of stigma, encompassing attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge, directed toward individuals with mental health issues within a youthful Tunisian sample.

Methods

We undertook a descriptive cross-sectional study, enlisting high 1000 teenagers aged from 16 to 20. The Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS) and the Reported and Intended Behavior Scale (RIBS) were employed to assess the adolescents’ understanding of stigma, encompassing attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge.
We also inquired about personal histories of mental illness and whether participants had a friend or relative with a mental health concern.

Results

Our results found that the mean MAKS score was 21.5 +/- 2.29 and the mean RIBS was 14.24 +/- 3.84. We found that teenagers with personal psychiatric history believe that people with psychiatric issues could have a full reestablishment (p=0.05). In addition, they showed more acceptance toward neighbors with mental health issues (p=0.016) and were more apt to have a relationship with a person with a mental health disorder (p=0.00). Teenagers with a family history of mental health disorders were more convinced that pharmacological treatment could be efficient to treat psychiatric disorders (p=0.05) and believed that people with mental health issues could get totally reestablished (p=0.005) Students who had a friend with a psychiatric issue found themselves able to advise their friends and to refer them to specialists (p=0.044). They showed a greater acceptance for being in a relationship with someone who had a psychiatric disorder (p=0.05).

Conclusions

Our findings indicated elevated levels of stigma among adolescents. Those with a family history or friends with mental disorders exhibited lower levels of stigma. Introducing educational sessions on mental health and stigma into school programs could serve as a potential solution to diminish perceptions of stigma.