The stigmatization of mental health care workers/providers

Stigma nastaje kada se ljude pogrešno doživljava kao da imaju pretjerane negativne atribute, što posljedično dovodi do rušenja integriteta i vrijednosti kao osobe. Stigmatizacija je pojam koji označava postupak kojim se neka osoba negativno obilježava, postupak kojim je nadodana negativna reperkusija na temelju jedne karakteristike koju osoba posjeduje. Mentalna retardacija se ne smatra bolešću ili specifičnom nesposobnošću, već je administrativno zadani naslov za genetska, medicinska i socijalna stanja čija je zajednička karakteristika značajno ispodprosječno intelektualno funkcioniranje. Dijagnoza mentalne retardacije se koristi u brojnim zemljama isključivo u situacijama kada je takvoj osobi neophodna pomoć zajednice tijekom njezinog života. Cilj ovog rada je bio utvrditi jesu li osobe koje rade s osobama oboljelim od mentalnih teškoća stigmatizirane te u kojoj mjeri. Nadalje, cilj je bio vidjeti kakav je stav okoline prema osobama koje rade s osobama oboljelim od mentalnih teškoća. Metoda korištena prilikom izrade ovoga diplomskog rada je anketno istraživanje u obliku polustrukturiranog intervjua sa 17 pitanja provedeno na 12 djelatnika koji rade u ustanovi koja skrbi za osobe s mentalnim teškoćama. Odgovori su uspoređivani sa njihovim demografskim podacima i podacima o profesiji. Među ispitanicima je jedan ispitanik bio diplomirani socijalni radnik, jedan ispitanik je bio prvostupnik fizioterapije, jedna viša medicinska sestra, tri srednje medicinske sestre, četiri njegovateljice srednje stručne spreme, jedna kuharica srednje stručne spreme i jedna spremačica srednje stručne spreme. Ispitanici su učestvovali u istraživanju bez obzira na stupanj obrazovanja i duljinu njihovog staža. Rezultati mogu biti od značaja u svrhu smanjivanja stigmatizacije okoline osoblja koje radi s osobama oboljelim od mentalnih teškoća. Zaključak je da je potrebno neprekidno provoditi kampanju protiv stigmatizacije. Pomoću odgovora dobivenih provođenjem ankete zaključeno je kako je vrlo važno i neophodno educirati o osobama s mentalnim teškoćama. Edukacijom osoblja se smanjuje količina straha koja je dokazano inicijalno prisutna pri početku rada s takvim osobama.Stigma occurs when people are misperceived as having excessively negative attributes, which in turn leads to the undermining of their integrity and values as a person. Stigmatization is a term that denotes a process by which a person is negatively marked, a process by which negative repercussion is added based on a single characteristic that a person possesses. Mental retardation is not considered a disease or a specific disability, but is frequently used for genetic, medical, and social conditions whose common feature is significantly below-average intellectual functioning. The diagnosis of mental retardation is used in many countries exclusively in situations where such a person needs the help of the community throughout his or her life. The aim of this study was to determine whether and to what extent people who work with people with mental disabilities are stigmatized. More specifically, the aim was to appraise the exact attitudes towards people who work with people with mental disabilities. A primary method used in this thesis was a semi-structured interview with 17 questions conducted on 12 employees working in an institution for the care of people with mental disabilities. The responses were compared with their demographic and occupational data. Among the respondents, one respondent was a graduate social worker, one respondent was a bachelor of physiotherapy, one senior nurse, three nurses, four caregivers with secondary education, one cook with secondary education and one cleaner with secondary education. Respondents participated in the research regardless of their education level and length of their internship. The results may be relevant in order to reduce the stigmatization of staff working with people with mental disabilities. Based on the results of this thesis, it can be concluded that there is a need for a continuous campaign against stigmatization. Using the answers we received from the survey, it was concluded that it is especially important and necessary to educate people with mental disabilities. Staff education reduces the amount of fear that is proven to be initially present when starting to work with such individuals