TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding and Addressing Mental Health Disparities and Stigma in Serious Illness and Palliative Care
AU - Gerhart, James
AU - Oswald, Laura Bouchard
AU - McLouth, Laurie
AU - Gibb, Lindsey
AU - Perry, Laura
AU - England, Ashley Eaton
AU - Sannes, Timothy
AU - Schoenbine, Delaney
AU - Ramos, Katherine
AU - Greenberg, Jared
AU - O’Mahony, Sean
AU - Levine, Stacie
AU - Baron, Aliza
AU - Hoerger, Michael
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023.
PY - 2025/1
Y1 - 2025/1
N2 - Patients receiving palliative care experience stigma associated with their illness, personal identity, and healthcare utilization. These stigmas can occur at any stage of the disease process. Varying stigmas combine to cause palliative care patients to feel misunderstood, contribute to treatment barriers, and further negative stereotypes held by clinicians. Stigma surrounding palliative care patients stems from complex intersections of varied access to resources, familial and physical environment, socioeconomic status, mental health and disorders, and identity characteristics. This article examines the relationship between the stigmatization of mental health and palliative care through three pathways: stigma and barriers existing within healthcare, the tendency of this stigma to undermine social support, and patient deferral of treatment-seeking in response to stigma. Recommendations to address and diminish stigmatization are presented, including advocacy, increased research and assessment, and contextual and intersectional awareness. Clinicians are also encouraged to turn to their colleagues for peer support and team-based care.
AB - Patients receiving palliative care experience stigma associated with their illness, personal identity, and healthcare utilization. These stigmas can occur at any stage of the disease process. Varying stigmas combine to cause palliative care patients to feel misunderstood, contribute to treatment barriers, and further negative stereotypes held by clinicians. Stigma surrounding palliative care patients stems from complex intersections of varied access to resources, familial and physical environment, socioeconomic status, mental health and disorders, and identity characteristics. This article examines the relationship between the stigmatization of mental health and palliative care through three pathways: stigma and barriers existing within healthcare, the tendency of this stigma to undermine social support, and patient deferral of treatment-seeking in response to stigma. Recommendations to address and diminish stigmatization are presented, including advocacy, increased research and assessment, and contextual and intersectional awareness. Clinicians are also encouraged to turn to their colleagues for peer support and team-based care.
KW - mental health
KW - palliative care
KW - stigma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85172130571&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1177/10541373231201952
DO - 10.1177/10541373231201952
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85172130571
SN - 1054-1373
VL - 33
SP - 109
EP - 129
JO - Illness Crisis and Loss
JF - Illness Crisis and Loss
IS - 1
ER -