Overcoming Internalized Stigma in Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities.

Kim,  Mi Young; Jun,  Seong Sook; Byun,  Eun Kyung

doi:2017.26.3.238

J Korean Acad Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs > Volume 26(3); 2017 > Article

Original Article

Journal of Korean Academy of psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing 2017;26(3):238-247.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12934/jkpmhn.2017.26.3.238 Published online October 24, 2017.

Overcoming Internalized Stigma in Persons with Psychiatric Disabilities.

Mi Young Kim, Seong Sook Jun, Eun Kyung Byun

¹Department of Nursing, Kaya University, Gimhae, Korea.
²Collage of Nursing, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Korea.
³Department of Nursing, Kyungnam College of Information · Technology, Busan, Korea. byunek@daum.net

Abstract

PURPOSE
This phenomenological study was done to identify comprehensively and in depth the experience of overcoming internalized stigma in persons with psychiatric disabilities. METHODS: Data were collected from December 2015 to June 2016 with 10 persons who had psychiatric disabilities. The participants took part in interviews on their experiences of overcoming stigma. The collected data were analyzed using Colaizzi method. RESULTS: From the raw data obtained from the study participants, 12 themes and 5 theme clusters were identified. The 5 theme clusters were found to be ‘being locked up in one's own stigma’, ‘trying to escape from the self in constraints’, ‘overcoming oneself by oneself’, ‘getting to see the true self’, and ‘living the life desired’. CONCLUSION: Study findings indicate the necessity of developing a mediation program to reduce and overcome the internalized stigma in the persons with psychiatric disabilities. A national and social effort is necessary for persons with psychiatric disabilities to help them overcome the internalized stigma.

Key Words: Mentally disabled persons; Qualitative research; Social stigma