Toplum Ruh Sağlığı Merkezinden Hizmet Alanların İçselleştirilmiş Damgalanma ve Sosyal İşlevsellik Durumlarının İncelenmesi: Eskişehir Örneği

Abstract

Community Mental Health Centres have been founded as a new service provision method in Turkey which is in transition process from medical model to community based model in the treatment of individuals with severe mental illness and are planned to be the main operative mechanism of the mental health services. The aim of this study is to point out the relation between the internalized stigma and social functioning of the service-users in the Community Mental Health Centre (CMHC), to analyse this relation with respect to psychiatric social work, to address the lacking points if there are any, to suggest solutions for further improvement of the CMHC services and raise awareness regarding the problems that the service-users experience. In the study, quantitative research method has been used. The sample is 105 patients selected through a relevant sampling method from the service-users of Eskişehir State Hospital Community Mental Health Centre. As for the data collection, Personal Information Form, Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale and Social Functioning Scale have been used. The data has been analysed via SPSS 24.0 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 24.0) program. In order to address the normal distribution of the scale scores, coefficient kurtosis and coefficient of skewness have been analysed and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test has been conducted. Cronbach's Alpha score has been found, 894 for the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale. The correlation between Social Functioning and Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness has been analysed through Pearson Correlation Test while the impact of Social Functioning on the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness has been investigated through linear regression.The difference between the Social Functioning and Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness depending on the personal information has been demonstrated via independent groups T test in dichotomous variables and one-way ANOVA test in K group variables ( k>2). In case of difference in ANOVA test, Tukey test has been used to compare. The result of the study indicates that the average score of Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale is 61,78±15,79 and the average score of Social Functioning Scale is 122,38±21,80. According to this findings, the score of Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale is higher than expected while the score of Social Functioning Scale is at the expected level. It is also found out that there is a correlation between the social functioning of the severe mental patients receiving services from the CMHC and the internalized stigma and social functioning and internalized stigma have negative impact on one another. Besides, it has been found out that Internalized Stigma and Social Functioning are effected by the diagnosis patients receive and their employment status as well as the family history with mental illnesses. Another finding is that the women are of higher level of social functioning. Lastly, it has been found out that the other demographic variables have no effect on the Internalized Stigma and Social Functioning. In line with the findings of the study, some solutions have been suggested such as case management in order to diminish the internalized stigma and boost social functioning at CMHC, the increase in the role of the family in treatment, and the increase in the number of the protected workplaces.