Reducing the Impacts of Mental Health Stigma Through Integrated Primary Care: An Examination of the Evidence

Summary & key facts

The authors reviewed research to see if adding mental health care into primary care reduces mental health stigma. They found only seven studies that directly tested this and also looked at related research that might show stigma changes. The available evidence suggests integrated primary care could lower stigma’s effect on whether people use services, but the authors say it is too early to be sure. They call for more focused research and give recommendations for future studies and programs.

Key facts:

• The review identified seven studies that directly examined whether integrated primary care reduces mental health stigma.
• The authors also examined broader integrated primary care (IPC) research on likely indicators of stigma reduction and on IPC features that might affect stigma-linked help-seeking.
• The paper concludes that evidence suggests IPC has the potential to reduce the impact of stigma on care use, but it is premature to draw firm conclusions.
• The article was published in Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings (Dec 2021; Epub Sep 29, 2020) and has DOI 10.1007/s10880-020-09742-4.
• The review notes a general lack of research on mental health stigma in IPC compared with other barriers discussed in agency reports.
• The article lists 97 references and includes specific research and program development recommendations to guide future studies.

Abstract

The reduction of mental health stigma (MHS) was an expected benefit of integrating behavioral health in primary care (IPC). However, unlike other barriers discussed in agency reports on IPC, discussions of MHS lack research support. To fill this gap, the authors conducted a literature review identif …

Topics

Employment and Welfare Studies Health disparities and outcomes Mental Health Treatment and Access

Categories

Psychology Social Psychology Social Sciences

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Agency (philosophy) Applied psychology Epistemology Family medicine Health care Health psychology Law Medicine Mental health Nursing Philosophy Political science Primary care Psychiatry Psychology Public health Stigma (botany)