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Factors that Influence Mental Health Stigma Among 8th Grade Adolescents

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Abstract

Unmet mental health need is a significant problem for adolescents. Although stigma is identified as a major barrier to the use of mental health services among youth, there is limited research on this topic. In-depth interviews (n=57) among a sample of 8th grade students in a suburban, mid-Atlantic community portray adolescent mental health attitudes and how these views are shaped. Satisfactory personal experiences with mental health services as well as accurate mental health knowledge contribute to positive mental health attitudes among teens. The anticipation of negative responses towards mental health care-seeking from family members, peers, and school staff are key factors in teens’ comfort and willingness to address mental health concerns. The research provides critical information on the factors that contribute to the development of stigma and emphasizes the need to address stigma in youth mental health education, programs, and treatment plans.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the school system, youth participants, and Community Advisory Board for their roles in this study. The study was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (R36 MH071117).

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Author notes

  1. Anita Chandra (Associate Behavioral/Social Scientist)

    Present address: RAND, 1200 South Hayes Street, Arlington, VA, 22202-5050, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Population and Family Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Mail Stop #4527, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Anita Chandra (Associate Behavioral/Social Scientist) & Cynthia S. Minkovitz

Authors
  1. Anita Chandra
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  2. Cynthia S. Minkovitz
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Correspondence to Anita Chandra.

Additional information

Authors are affiliated with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Population and Family Health Sciences. Dr. Chandra has a background in adolescent health, and is particularly interested in improving the accessibility and appropriateness of youth mental health services and involving young people in the translation of research into practice. Dr. Minkovitz is interested in improving preventive service delivery, enhancing quality of care, and understanding maternal factors that influence children’s receipt of health care

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Chandra, A., Minkovitz, C.S. Factors that Influence Mental Health Stigma Among 8th Grade Adolescents. J Youth Adolescence 36, 763–774 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-006-9091-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-006-9091-0

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