Attitudes of Canadian psychiatry residents if mentally ill: awareness, barriers to disclosure, and help-seeking preferences

Authors

  • Tariq Mahmood Hassan Queen's University
  • Tanya Tran Queen's University
  • Mir Nadeem Mazhar Queen's University
  • Nam Doan Queen's University
  • Tariq Munshi Queen's University
  • Neeraj Bajaj Queen's University
  • Dianne Groll Queen's University
  • Niall Galbraith University of Wolverhampton

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.36637

Keywords:

stigma, psychiatry, trainees, mental illness

Abstract

Background: The medical culture is defined by mental illness stigma, non-disclosure, and avoidance of professional treatment. Little research has explored attitudes and help-seeking behaviors of psychiatry trainees if they were to become mentally ill.

Method: Psychiatry residents (n = 106) from training centres across Ontario, Canada completed a postal survey on their attitudes, barriers to disclosure, and help-seeking preferences in the context of hypothetically becoming mentally ill.

Results: Thirty-three percent of respondents reported personal history of mental illness and the frequency of mental illness by year of training did not significantly differ. The most popular first contact for disclosure of mental illness was family and friends (n = 61, 57.5%). Frequent barriers to disclosure included career implications (n = 39, 36.8%), stigma (n = 11, 10.4%), and professional standing (n = 15, 14.2%). Personal history of mental illness was the only factor associated with in-patient treatment choice, with those with history opting for more formal advice versus informal advice.

Conclusions: At the level of residency training, psychiatrists are reporting barriers to disclosure and help-seeking if they were to experience mental illness. A majority of psychiatry residents would only disclose to informal supports. Those with a history of mental illness would prefer formal treatment services over informal services.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Downloads

Published

2016-10-18

How to Cite

1.
Hassan TM, Tran T, Mazhar MN, Doan N, Munshi T, Bajaj N, Groll D, Galbraith N. Attitudes of Canadian psychiatry residents if mentally ill: awareness, barriers to disclosure, and help-seeking preferences. Can. Med. Ed. J [Internet]. 2016 Oct. 18 [cited 2024 Nov. 4];7(2):e14-24. Available from: https://dev.journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cmej/article/view/36637

Issue

Section

Original Research