TITLE:
Double Tragedy: Examining the Effects of Mental Health Stigma on Help Seeking Behaviour among Deaf People in Ghana
AUTHORS:
Juventus Duorinaah, Wisdom Kwadwo Mprah, Lyla Adwan-Kamara, Magdalene Mawugbe
KEYWORDS:
Accessibility, Deaf People, Mental Health, Interventions, Stigma
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Psychiatry,
Vol.13 No.3,
July
20,
2023
ABSTRACT: Background: Globally, mental health is recognized as one of the
major public health issues, and mental health stigma is one of the main barriers
to mental healthcare. While several studies have been conducted on the stigma associated
with mental health, very little is known about the mental health stigma experienced
by deaf persons with mental health conditions in Ghana. This study examines the
experiences of double stigmatization by deaf people with mental health conditions
in Ghana. Methodology: A descriptive, mixed method data collection was used for seventy-nine (79) participants. The paper presents findings from the only qualitative component
of the study. Results: The findings from the study showed that deaf people with mental illness experienced double
stigma, namely being stigmatized for being deaf and for having mental illness. This
hindered access to mental health services for deaf people with mental health condition. Conclusion: Deaf people with
mental health conditions experience double stigmatization which discourages them from seeking professional psychiatric care. This
implies that efforts to reduce mental health stigma and create awareness on deafness should be improved upon. It is recommended that, in view of the impact of stigma on the provision and use of mental
health care services, strategies to improve access to mental health care, should
seriously consider concerns about stigma.