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Journals / Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar / 2026 / Cilt: 18 Sayı: 3

Stigma and Psychological Help-Seeking Among Caregivers of Individuals with Chronic Mental Illness

Kronik Ruhsal Hastalık Tanılı Bireylere Bakım Verenlerde Damgalanma ve Psikolojik Yardım Arama

Sevim Uslu0009-0004-1190-9700
Adeviye Aydın(Necmettin Erbakan Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Fakültesi)0000-0003-1929-5139
Pages
995–1005
Publication Date
2026-04-15
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Thus, the assessment of this situation experienced by caregivers will enable the planning of interventions aimed at combating stigma and increasing individuals' help-seeking behaviors.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:The treatment of mental illness requires the development of an individualized treatment plan, and the implementation of this plan necessitates collaboration between mental health professionals and caregivers.
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Key Findings & Data:In the care process for chronic mental illnesses, caregivers must contend with numerous challenges, including taking on new responsibilities, experiencing deterioration in social relationships, feeling inadequate, facing stigma, and encountering financial difficulties.
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Conclusion & Impact:Thus, the assessment of this situation experienced by caregivers will enable the planning of interventions aimed at combating stigma and increasing individuals' help-seeking behaviors.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Kronik ruhsal hastalıklar · Bakım verenler · Damgalanma

Abstract

The treatment of mental illness requires the development of an individualized treatment plan, and the implementation of this plan necessitates collaboration between mental health professionals and caregivers. In the care process for chronic mental illnesses, caregivers must contend with numerous challenges, including taking on new responsibilities, experiencing deterioration in social relationships, feeling inadequate, facing stigma, and encountering financial difficulties. Not only patients but also caregivers are exposed to stigma in the fight against illness and are affected by the various negative consequences of stigma. Stigma is known to be one of the factors that prevent people from seeking help and participating in psychological support services. Individuals who stigmatize themselves and fear social stigma do not seek psychological support even when they need it, and this situation leads to delays in necessary intervention and the chronicity of their problems. Interventions designed to prevent stigmatization will facilitate individuals' access to resources for psychological help, enabling them to reach solutions earlier. This review aims to examine the stigma and psychological help-seeking behaviors of caregivers of individuals diagnosed with chronic mental illness in line with the literature. Thus, the assessment of this situation experienced by caregivers will enable the planning of interventions aimed at combating stigma and increasing individuals' help-seeking behaviors.

Özet

Ruhsal hastalığın tedavisinde bireye özgü bir tedavi planı oluşturulmakta ve bu planın gerçekleştirilmesinde ruh sağlığı uzmanlarının ve bakım verenin iş birliği gerekmektedir. Kronik ruhsal hastalıkların bakım sürecinde bakım verenler; yeni sorumluluklar edinme, sosyal ilişkilerde bozulma, yetersiz olduğunu hissetme, damgalanma ve maddi zorluklar gibi birçok zorlukla mücadele etmek zorundadır. Hastalıkla mücadelede yalnızca hastalar değil bakım verenler de damgalanmaya maruz kalmakta ve damgalanmanın getirdiği çeşitli olumsuz sonuçlardan etkilenmektedir. Yardım arama ve psikolojik yardım hizmetlerine katılım sağlama konusunda kişileri geride tutan etkenlerden birinin de damgalanma olduğu bilinmektedir. Kendini damgalayan ve sosyal damgalanmadan çekinen bireyler; ihtiyaç duysalar da psikolojik destek almamakta ve bu durum ihtiyaç duyulan müdahalenin gecikmesine, sorunlarının kronikleşmesine neden olmaktadır. Damgalanmayı önlemeye yönelik müdahaleler, kişilerin psikolojik yardım alma konusunda kaynaklara erişimini kolaylaştırarak daha erken çözüme ulaşmalarını sağlayacaktır. Bu derlemede kronik ruhsal hastalık tanılı bireylere bakım verenlerin damgalanma ve psikolojik yardım arama davranışlarının literatür doğrultunda incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Böylece bakım verenlerin yaşadıkları bu durumun değerlendirilmesi, damgalama ile mücadelenin ve bireylerin yardım arama davranışlarının artmasına yönelik müdahalelerin planlanmasına olanak sağlanacaktır.

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Cite This Article

Uslu, S., Aydın, A. (2026). Stigma and Psychological Help-Seeking Among Caregivers of Individuals with Chronic Mental Illness. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar, Cilt: 18 Sayı: 3, 995–1005. https://doi.org/10.18863/pgy.1723223

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