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- Mental health literacy and stigma in a municipality in the north of portugal: a cross-sectional studyPublication . Simões de Almeida, Raquel; Trigueiro, Maria João; Portugal, Paula; Sousa, Sara; Simões-Silva, Vítor; Campos, Filipa; Silva, Maria; Marques, AntónioPortugal has Europe’s second-highest prevalence of psychiatric illnesses, and this is the reason why mental health literacy (MHL) and stigma should be addressed. This study aimed to investigate the mental health literacy and stigma levels among different groups of people from Póvoa de Varzim, a municipality in the north of Portugal. Students, retired people, and professionals (education, social, and healthcare fields) were recruited using a convenience sample from June to November 2022. Participants’ MHL levels were evaluated using the Mental Health Promoting Knowledge Scale (MHPK), Mental Health Literacy Measure (MHLM) and Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS). Stigma levels were evaluated using Community Attitudes towards Mental Illness (CAMI) and the Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale (RIBS). A total of 928 questionnaires were filed. The respondents included 65.70% of women, a mean age of 43.63 (±26.71) years and 9.87 (±4.39) years of school education. MHL increased with age, education level and was higher in women (p < 0.001). A higher level of MHL was seen in health professionals (p < 0.001). Findings revealed that older people stigmatized people with mental illness more (p < 0.001), and the female gender stigmatize less (p < 0.001). In addition, results showed that stigma decreased with higher mental health literacy (r between 0.11 and 0.38; p < 0.001). To conclude, specific campaigns that promote mental health literacy should be tailored to specific profiles within this population to address those that have more stigma.
- Assessing the efficacy of the ‘Bicho De 7 Cabeças’ B-learning school-based program in enhancing mental health literacy and reducing stigmaPublication . Meilsmeidth, Gislene; Trigueiro, Maria João; Simões-Silva, Vítor; Simões de Almeida, Raquel; Portugal, Paula; Gomes, Paulo Veloso; Sousa, Sara; Campos, Filipa; Monteiro, Pedro; Soutelo, Ana Paula; Marques, AntónioThe prevalence of mental disorders in adolescents has a considerable impact on daily life, restricting tasks and diminishing overall quality of life while potentially leading to stigmatization. This study aims to measure the impact of a mental health literacy intervention program, called “Bicho de 7 Cabeças” project, in b-learning format, on the increase of knowledge and the decrease of stigma in young people from Póvoa de Varzim, in Portugal. A quasi-experimental study was conducted, from November 2022 to May 2023, involving an experimental group (“Bicho de 7 Cabeças” protocol) and an active control group (informational brochures), utilizing a pre-test/post-test design. Mental Health Literacy Measure-MHLM, Mental Health Promoting Knowledge Scale-MHPK-10, Mental Illness Knowledge Schedule-MAKS, Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale-RIBS, and Community Attitudes toward People with Mental Illness-CAMI were used. A total of 504 young students from the 9th grade enroll in this study, with a mean age around 14 years old. There is a significant difference between stigma (p <.001) and knowledge (p <.001) scores at baseline and follow-up. The results of this study shows that interventions aimed at young people for the promotion of mental health literacy and stigma reduction are needed and more initiatives should be implemented in schools to address these problems.
- Stigma and discrimination among professionals in portuguese integrated continuing care units: stigma and discrimination in ICCUsPublication . Rocha, Patrícia Castro; Sousa, Sara de; Marques, António; Almeida, Raquel Simões de; Trigueiro, Maria João; Campos, Filipa; Portugal, Paula; de Sousa, Sara; Pereira da Silva Marques, António José; Simões de Almeida, Raquel; Trigueiro, Maria João; Campos, Filipa; Portugal, PaulaStigma surrounding mental illness (MI) poses a significant obstacle to treatment access, hinders recovery, and may lead to suboptimal care. Breaking the chains of prejudice and embracing tolerance are essential steps in fostering understanding and compassion for those living with MI. This study aims to describe the levels of stigma and discrimination against individuals suffering from MI among professionals in Portuguese Integrated Continuing Care Units (ICCUs). A quantitative, observational, cross-sectional study involving 163 participants utilized a sociodemographic questionnaire, alongside two assessment instruments – the Attribution Questionnaire (AQ-27) and Com-munity Attitudes Toward Mental Illness (CAMI). Revealed significant differences in stigma levels based on education (pprejudice = .001; ptolerance = .007) and occupation (pprejudice = .025), higher stigma being associated with lower education levels and specific healthcare occupations (medical assistant). Additionally, a positive correlation was found between age and stigma perception (r = -236, pprejudice = .002; r = -167, ptolerance = .033). The findings underscore the urgent necessity for targeted an-ti-stigma interventions within Portuguese integrated continuing care units, focusing on mitigating education-based disparities, and addressing specific healthcare occupations that exhibit heightened stigma. Effectively combat-ing stigma among professionals is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and compassionate environment in these care settings.