Mental health is a crucial component of overall well-being. The stigma surrounding mental health significantly impacts individuals and society, discouraging many from seeking the help they need. This article explores the roots of mental health stigma in Turkey, its consequences, and potential solutions to address this pressing issue, with a focus on how patient research can help with it.

Mental Health Stigma in Turkey: Causes and Consequences

Stigma surrounding mental health in Turkey is often fueled by ignorance and fear. Historically, terms like "madness" or "mental weakness" have created a negative connotation of mental illnesses. One of the most damaging outcomes of this stigma is social isolation. Individuals with mental illnesses are often ostracized by their families and communities, which drastically affects their quality of life.

A systematic review highlights the widespread negative attitudes toward mental illnesses in Turkish society, which hinder individuals' social integration and access to treatment (Çam & Bilge, 2013). For example, people with known mental health conditions are avoided for marriage, job recruitment and even as neighbor preferences, especially among people in rural areas and younger demographic groups.   

One reason specific to Turkish culture is said to be “anticipated stigma” (Ikizer, Ramírez-Esparza, & Diane, 2018). When compared to more individualistic cultures such as US, people from a collectivistic culture like Turkey have higher stress levels due to anxiety of their concealed diagnosis will be revealed. In return, they will receive more negative behavior associated with stigma around their diagnosis. This is mainly because people from collectivistic cultures also evaluate themselves based on how others will evaluate them in return.

Prioritizing studies that actively involve patients in the research process can dismantle preconceived biases and provide actionable insights. Accurate and empathetic portrayals of mental health in the media can challenge stereotypes and promote acceptance.

The Role of Patient Research

Even though governmental policies such as the Turkey Mental Health Action Plan (2011-2023) have also been instrumental, patient research remained as an underexplored yet critical area in combating mental health stigma. This type of research focuses on understanding the lived experiences of individuals with mental health conditions, providing invaluable insights into their needs and challenges. Unfortunately, in Turkey, studies capturing patient perspectives remain scarce or are conducted with biases that further perpetuate stigma.

When patient research is absent or misrepresented, mental health initiatives risk being out of touch with the realities of those they aim to serve. For instance, stigmatized language or framing in research can reinforce negative stereotypes, as highlighted in studies analyzing media narratives about mental health. Results strongly supported that priming people about mental illness leads them to believe that mental illness was related to a violent incident, and that pragmatic inference underlies laypeople’s processing of news reports (Chan & Yanos, 2018). When crime news is represented highlighting the individual's mental health conditions, there is a strong tendency to assume mental health condition is the cause of the crime committed. When in fact, only 2% of crimes are committed directly due to psychiatric conditions in Turkey (Candansever, 2020). Media as an important agent of stigmatization can dispel myths about mental health and reduce ignorance.

References:

1. Çam, O., & Bilge, A. (2013). "Systematic Review of Attitudes Toward Mental Illness in Turkey."

2.     Candansever, S. (2020). Turkey Psychiatric Association. Prejudice, discrimination and violence. Retrieved July 7, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syDByXIOvBs&ab_channel=T%C3%BCrkiyePsikiyatriDerne%C4%9Fi.

3.     Ikizer, E., Ramírez-Esparza, N., & Diane, M. (2018). Culture and concealable stigmatized identities: Examining anticipated stigma in the United States and Turkey. American Psychological Association. Stigma and Health, Vol 3(2). https://psycnet.apa.org/buy/2017-05732-001