Kyaien O. Conner

TL;DR: Stigma associated with having a mental illness has a negative influence on attitudes and intentions toward seeking mental health services among older adults with depression, particularly African American elders.

TL;DR: The internalization of stigma is key in the development of negative attitudes toward mental health treatment, and future research should focus on this aspect of stigma in both individual and community-based efforts to reduce stigma.

TL;DR: In this article, a qualitative study examined the experience of depression among African-American elders and their perceptions of barriers confronted when contemplating seeking mental health services and examined how coping strategies are utilized by older adults who choose not to seek professional mental health treatment.

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the existence and experiences of stigma in a sample of older adult methadone maintenance clients and found that respondents who reported more stigmas were more likely to identify stigma as a barrier to substance abuse and mental health treatment.

TL;DR: Thematic analysis identified six overarching themes: perceptions of depression, the African American experience, seeking treatment as a last resort, myths about treatment, stigma associated with seeking treatment and culturally appropriate coping strategies, and implications for practice, education and research.