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Perceptions of Mental Illness and Related Stigma Among Vietnamese Populations: Findings from a Mixed Method Study

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Abstract

Mental-illness-related (MIR) stigma is recognized as a major barrier to health care. Yet very little is known about mental illness and stigma among Vietnamese populations, or how emigration and acculturation processes might affect traditional views. Focus group discussions were conducted with Vietnamese Americans in New Orleans (Louisiana) and Vietnamese nationals in Bui Chu (Vietnam), who shared historical and cultural backgrounds, in 2010 to assess differences in their perceptions of mental illness and stigma. Results show several significant differences in mental illness perceptions between Vietnamese Americans and Vietnamese nationals, while MIR stigma seemed prevalent and understanding of mental illness was low among both groups.

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Acknowledgments

This study is supported by the Gulf Coast Transdisciplinary Research Recover Center for Community Health (NIH 1RC2MD004783-01; Principal Investigator: Maureen Litchveld). We also thank Mark VanLandingham for his inputs and comments on earlier drafts of the report.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Global Health Systems and Development, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Mai Do, Nhu Ngoc K. Pham & Stacy Wallick

  2. Department of Psychology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Bonnie Kaul Nastasi

Authors
  1. Mai Do
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  2. Nhu Ngoc K. Pham
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  3. Stacy Wallick
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  4. Bonnie Kaul Nastasi
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Correspondence to Nhu Ngoc K. Pham.

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Do, M., Pham, N.N.K., Wallick, S. et al. Perceptions of Mental Illness and Related Stigma Among Vietnamese Populations: Findings from a Mixed Method Study. J Immigrant Minority Health 16, 1294–1298 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-014-0018-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-014-0018-7

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