THE EFFECT OF TRAUMA AND STIGMA ON MENTAL HEALTH AND TREATMENT ENGAGEMENT

Abstract

The objective of this proposed research study would be to examine the role stigma may play in association to trauma and treatment engagement, as well as how ethnicity could impact these attitudes. Past research has shown how complex the stigma process is, and has indicated that racial differences need to be investigated when studying stigma towards mental illness and treatment engagement. To further previous research, the proposed study would examine mental health stigma in people who have experienced trauma, specifically, those who identify as Hispanic and Latinx individuals, and how it affects treatment engagement. To test for the impact of stigma toward mental illness and treatment engagement, an experiment would be conducted through the use of Qualtrics and an in person interview. Participants would participate in a combined qualitative interview with an anonymous survey. The proposed study would investigate three main research questions regarding the types of stigma toward mental health that are commonly found among Hispanic and Latinx individuals, the level of stigma toward mental health and treatment engagement, and the impact this stigma could have on treatment engagement. Findings could suggest that self and perceived stigmatization toward mental health and treatment is prevalent among Hispanic and Latinx communities, and that it may deter mental health service utilization among these individuals. Keywords: Stigma, Trauma, Mental Illness, Treatment, Engagement, Hispanic, Latinx.