Reducing the Impacts of Mental Health Stigma Through Integrated Primary Care: An Examination of the Evidence

Summary & key facts

The authors reviewed research to see if putting mental health care inside regular doctor's offices can reduce the shame and worry people feel about getting help. They found only seven studies that directly looked at stigma, and looked at other related research for more clues. The evidence hints that integrated care might make it easier for people to use mental health services and face less stigma, but the research is too thin to be sure. The paper calls for more and better studies and gives ideas for programs and research to test this properly.

Key facts:

• The paper reviewed existing research to test whether adding mental health services into primary care reduces mental health stigma.
• The authors found only seven studies that directly examined stigma in integrated primary care settings.
• Because there were so few direct studies, the authors also looked at broader research on integrated primary care for signs that stigma might be reduced.
• Taken together, the studies suggest integrated care could lower stigma’s effect on whether people seek help, but the evidence is limited.
• The authors say it is premature to draw firm conclusions because the research is sparse and more targeted studies are needed.
• The paper ends with specific recommendations for future research and for designing programs to better test and track stigma reduction in primary care.

Topics

Employment and Welfare Studies Health disparities and outcomes Mental Health Treatment and Access

Categories

Psychology Social Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Agency (philosophy) Applied psychology Epistemology Family medicine Health care Health psychology Law Medicine Mental health Nursing Philosophy Political science Primary care Psychiatry Psychology Public health Stigma (botany)

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety Depression Anxiety or worry Sadness or low mood