What happens when stigma impacts work policies? NPR investigates the challenges and barriers for healthcare workers seeking substance use treatment.
Ending stigma, saving lives: Yale doctors take on opioid addiction
Words Matter: Stigmatizing Language in Medical Records May Affect the Care a Patient Receives
Too Often Doctors Stigmatize People Living with Mental Illness
Stigma Affects Everyone, Even Doctors
According to a study by the American Psychiatric Association,
“Every year, 300-400 physicians die by suicide in the U.S. This statistic should make us all arc an eyebrow, considering physicians are there to save lives, not take their own.”
NAMI explains how stigma plays a role in the suicide rates of doctors and how important it is for medical professionals to speak out when they are struggling.
Challenging the Stigma of Counselors with Mental Illness
Many people are attracted to the mental health field as a result of their own mental health challenges. Despite this, there is still a significant stigma for counselors to talk openly about their mental health struggles. Anna Lente provides insight into why having a history of mental illness makes her a better counselor and encourages others like her to share their experiences.
Healthcare Worker’s Feelings About People With Substance Use Disorders
The Stigma That Undermines Care
In a study about stigma within health care, researchers found that exposure to stigmatizing language in descriptions of patients changed the way they provided care. The American Psychological Association provides a brief overview into this study and strategies for doctors dedicated to overcoming this bias.
Beyond the Stigma: New program helps nurses struggling with addiction
Getting help for a substance use disorder can already be scary, but what if asking for help also meant losing your job and career? A program in New Hampshire is working to reduce the stigma of addiction for nurses by providing an innovative new program to assist nurses in accessing services without risking their license.
How Patient Suicide Affects Psychiatrists
According to this article in The Atlantic, “Mental-health practitioners whose clients kill themselves can face stigma from their colleagues, lawsuits, and a toll on their own psyches—making them less likely to take on suicidal patients who need their help.” The article breaks down why this stigma occurs, how other providers perpetrate this stigma, and what barriers to care it creates.