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Community Mental Health Journal
Published in: Community Mental Health Journal 5/2020

01-07-2020 | Original Paper

Mental Illness Public Stigma and Generational Differences Among Vietnamese Americans

Authors: Mai Do, Jennifer McCleary, Diem Nguyen, Keith Winfrey

Published in: Community Mental Health Journal | Issue 5/2020

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Abstract

Public stigma is one barrier to accessing behavioral health care among Vietnamese Americans. To explore and identify features of culture and acculturation that influence behavioral health-related stigma, six focus groups were conducted with Vietnamese American participants in three generational groups and eleven key informant interviews were conducted with Vietnamese community leaders, traditional healers, and behavioral health professionals. Data were analyzed using Link and Phelan’s (Annu Rev Sociol 27(1):363–385, 2001) work on stigma as an organizing theoretical framework. Findings underline several key cultural and generational factors that intersect to affect perceptions, beliefs, and stigma about mental health treatment. In particular, participants in the youngest groups highlighted that while they recognized the value of mental health services, they felt culturally limited in their access. This appeared to be closely related to intergenerational communication about mental health. The findings suggest avenues for further research as well as interventions to increase mental health treatment access and adherence.
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Metadata
Title
Mental Illness Public Stigma and Generational Differences Among Vietnamese Americans
Authors
Mai Do
Jennifer McCleary
Diem Nguyen
Keith Winfrey
Publication date
01-07-2020
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Community Mental Health Journal / Issue 5/2020
Print ISSN: 0010-3853
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2789
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-019-00545-y

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