Pediatrics & Therapeutics
Open Access

Addressing stigma on the child and adolescent psychiatry consultation service through use of video

Joint Event on 16^th Annual World Congress on Pediatrics & 3^rd Annual World Congress on Pediatric Nutrition, Gastroenterology & Child Development

March 21-22, 2018 | New York, USA

Rachel Talbot and Nasuh Malas

University of Michigan, USA

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Pediatr Ther

Abstract :

Stigma in child and adolescent psychiatry continues to be a significant barrier for youth to receive much needed psychiatric care. Parents misperceptions regarding mental health may interfere with their childâ�?�?s care and negatively influence their childâ�?�?s view of mental health. For some children, their first experience with psychiatry may occur during medical hospitalization when they are seen by the Psychiatry Consultation-Liaison (C/L) Service. Despite this unique role, there is limited data on how to address mental health stigma with patients and families within the context of child and adolescent C/L psychiatry. This study explores the use of a brief introductory video with messages from the psychiatry C/L team, families who have accessed mental health consultation in the hospital, as well as clips of family and C/L team interactions to address parental stigma of psychiatry. Common stigmatized concerns shared by parents include concerns about confidentiality, later ramifications of mental healthcare, outsider status, and parental self-blame. There are also stigmatized concerns about psychiatric medication use including overmedication, sedation, long-term effects, medicating â�?�?real problemsâ�? and personality blunting. Each of these are addressed during the video parents will see with the intent of reducing negative parental perceptions relating to mental healthcare. For this study, families are given a survey highlighting these concerns, prior to and after watching the video. Pre-and post-video responses are compared with the hypothesis that watching the video will effectively reduce parental stigma about psychiatric care. Data collection is currently underway and will be completed by the end of November 2017 with data analysis completed by January 2018. This study will also give vital information about the demographic differences in perceptions of stigma so future interventions can be targeted towards those with higher perceived stigma. This study posits that use of an introductory video is an effective strategy to combat stigma and help educate and empower families. In this way, we will be reducing further barriers for patients and families to seek out mental health resources and supports that are often desperately needed for these youths.

Biography :

Rachel Talbot has graduated from Ross University School of Medicine in 2013. She has completed her Psychiatry Internship and Residency at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She is currently a second year Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellow, PGY-5, at Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI.
Email:rbokelma@med.umich.edu