Abstract
Mental health issues have become a topical problem for contemporary society. The incidence rates of various conditions are alarmingly high, and the issues continue to affect new groups of population on a more profound level. In addition to objective difficulties caused by their conditions, people with mental health issues experience ostracism and discrimination from the rest of society. In order to address the issue, it is necessary to assess the current perception of people with mental health issues by the general public. This study proposes a quantitative survey design, which provides statistical data, which would reflect the current state of the problem. Based on the data, it will be possible to design effective interventions in the spheres where it is most necessary.
Introduction
Mental health is an essential concept, which has been receiving increased attention in recent decades. Unfortunately, despite considerable medical and scientific progress, the percentage of people with such conditions remains high. At the same time, the perception of such individuals by other members of society is often negative. This attitude is usually conditioned by stereotypes and prejudices embedded in the social landscape, and most of them are hardly ever related to the actual situation. Furthermore, the stigmatization of people with mental health issues further aggravates their problems, preventing them from proper socialization and impeding the recovery. These individuals already have to battle serious conditions, and ostracism prevents them from reaching their full potential and earning the deserved position in society. Evidently, modern values promote inclusiveness at all levels, but, despite significant progress, the amount of work to be done remains considerable. This proposal outlines an envisaged study, which would assess the current perception of people with mental issues within society while suggesting potential means of improving it.
Literature Review
Considering the acute nature of the matter at hand, a considerable amount of prior research exists in the academic community. These studies have the potential to provide a solid evidence-based foundation for the project and further discussions. Within the framework of the current proposal, reputable academic research databases were examined in the context of the discussed issue. The selection criteria served to determine studies, which are relevant to the topic and provide up-to-date information. Therefore, the selection process focused on articles that relate to the topic of mental health issues, their perception, and potential means of improving them. Furthermore, the studies were supposed to be published in English, i.e., available to the global academic community, within the past five years. The selection process resulted in an array of 20 articles, which were studied, and categorize based on the overarching topic.
Mental Health Issues Prevalence
The first set of studies is expected to outline the grave nature of the problem in the current society. Park-Lee et al. (2017) report that nearly 15% of American residents seek mental health treatment annually, and there is also a number of people who do not address their problems. Research suggests that current studies focus on mental issue prevalence within specific, previously non-targeted groups (Hanley et al., 2019). Trinh et al. (2019) observe significant disparities resulting in higher levels of mental issue prevalence among racial and ethnic minority elderly. Furthermore, mental problems are on the increase among the younger population, as well (Cain, 2018). Cage et al. (2018) state that the students’ mental health is a matter of serious concern for universities. This idea is supported by Evans et al. (2018), who refers to the matter as a crisis in graduate education. Ventriglio et al. (2020) trace the surge in mental health problems to the growing urbanization rates, which contribute to social alienation. It causes new issues and aggravates the existing ones.
Mental Health Issues Perception
The aforementioned data suggest that a large portion of the world’s population is affected by a certain degree of mental health issues. The further set of studies aims to investigate the perception of such people within society. A systematic review conducted by Coleman et al. (2017) has revealed the presence of structural discrimination against people with mental issues. Smith and Applegate (2018) state that the negative perception of the matter creates barriers preventing patients from seeking proper help. Additionally, when mental health challenges co-exist with another issue, such as substance abuse, the combined stigmas of both are accumulated (Birtel et al., 2017). Furthermore, disorders, which require the use of opioids, are seen as an equivalent of drug use by many (Kennedy-Hendricks et al., 2017). The alienation increased during the Covid-19 pandemic when socialization was further challenged, and mental issues became aggravated by lockdowns (Aqeel et al., 2020, and Tang et al., 2021).
Mental Health Issues Representation and Improvement
The way mental health issues are represented is to be evaluated in order to determine further intervention plans. Robinson et al. (2019) state that online media, which is the leading source of content for the younger generation, is generally characterized by the negative representation of such challenges. The problem is especially acute for LGBT communities, which experience double misrepresentation and discrimination (Strauss, 2020). Nevertheless, Bowen and Lovell (2019) observe a positive tendency in this regard on the Twitter platform. Neto et al. (2017) show that traditional media represents mental issues more positively, whereas treatment procedures are mostly covered from a negative perspective. Evidently, the problem is to be addressed on various levels in order to improve representation and eradicate the consequent discrimination. Marwood and Hearn (2019) suggest that one of the first steps would consist of increasing the level of mental health literacy among students. According to Browers (2020), eliminating the gap in the public’s knowledge is essential in addressing the issue properly. Bryan et al. (2018) refer to effective management programs, which contribute to the process in the workplace. Overall, a comprehensive effort is required to sustain the existing progress.
Aim
The purpose of the proposed study is to evaluate the current level of public perception of mental health issues in order to establish the most promising points of improvement.
Research Question
What can be done to reduce the negative perception of people with mental issues?
Methodology
Questionnaire Design
The proposed questionnaire comprises ten questions with yes/no variants of answers. The purpose of these questions is to encompass various spheres of general human activity. The range of areas would include the primary situations in which people with mental health issues could experience discrimination. First, questions will concern regular personal interaction in the mundane setting. Next, the evaluation of professional workplace communication will be conducted. An alternative to this section would include the educational environment if the respondent is still a student. Finally, the third section comprises questions related to close, even intimate relationships. This way, it will be possible to observe the tendencies regarding the public’s view of people with mental issues in a variety of most common settings.
Reliability and Validity
These concepts imply that the results of the study can be considered accurate and utilized in research for further reference. The reliability of the study will be ensured by its very design. Considering the current situation in terms of the Covid-19 pandemic’s restrictions, the questionnaires will be distributed via the Internet. However, access to the questionnaire will be granted only after the completion of a simple yet necessary registration procedure. Potential respondents will be familiarized with the design and the aim of the study. They will also need to fill several forms, which will provide information regarding the study sample’s demographics for further statistics. This way, all subjects will be aware of the study’s purpose and participate in it voluntarily and knowingly.
Integrity
The notion of research integrity means that the study will rely on honest methods of data collection, analysis, and evaluation. It also implies that the possibility of personal bias influence on the outcome is to be reduced to a minimum. This proposal is based on the quantitative method of research, and all results will be presented in the form of numbers and statistics, thus alleviating the possibility of misinterpretation. Furthermore, all participants will be aware of the study design and informed of all relevant aspects. At the same time, they will be able to remain anonymous, which is likely to prompt honest answers.
Ethical Issues
The topic itself implies a certain degree of potential ethical issues. The concept of mental health is highly delicate for both people who experience issues with it and the general public. In this regard, considerable attention was devoted to the phrasing of all questions in order to avoid any unintentional offense. Additionally, all answers are to be recorded anonymously, and only relevant demographic data (age, gender, ethnicity, and occupational status) will be considered.
Sampling Method
The idea of the study is to reflect the general public’s perception of people with mental health issues. Accordingly, it will not focus on a specific social group in order to encompass the diverse population of the country will take all its variables. Sampling will be randomized in that the registration procedure for the online survey will comprise the only requirement, which is being over 18 years of age. This way, the project will be able to reflect the current situation in regards to the research question in an objective manner.
Participants
As mentioned before, the survey will be distributed via an online form with a short registration procedure. The study will not focus on a specific group, so the primary recipients of the questionnaire link will be from the researcher’s range of acquaintances (extended family, friends, and peers). However, to broaden the sample and obtain more objective data, the survey link will be later posted to one of the local social media communities.
Conclusion
Overall, the proposed study design is expected to yield relevant results in terms of potential points of improvement. Contemporary society is highly complex and multi-faceted, and each of its aspects requires a specific intervention plan. In fact, it would be inefficient to devise an action plan without a complete understanding of the current state of the problem. The proposed survey can provide insight into the current perception of people by the general public due to its randomized design. This way, it will be possible to determine whether immediate action is required in a particular area of society. Therefore, further studies can be targeted at specific environments and demographics, enabling precise intervention plans.
References
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