"Faking it:" Stigma as a Barrier to Accessing and Continuing Mental Health Treatment among People who Dissociate
Monday, April 17, 2023
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM US Eastern Time
This session is available for 1.50 APA and ASWB credits.
Only 28-48% of people with dissociative disorders receive mental health treatment despite a high need and desire for care. Individuals that do pursue treatment are often misdiagnosed, repeatedly hospitalized, and experience disbelief from providers about their trauma history and dissociative experiences. Stigma is believed to influence people's ability to access and continue mental health treatment. Given the relatively infrequent utilization of treatment, the current study explored barriers to accessing and continuing mental health treatment among individuals with dissociative symptoms and DDs. A total of 276 participants with self-reported dissociative symptoms were recruited via online social media platforms. The majority of participants reported barriers to accessing (97%) and continuing (92%) mental health treatment. More specifically, stigma prevented 32% of people from accessing treatment and caused 18% of people to discontinue care. Qualitative descriptions of barriers to care highlighted unique ways stigma perpetuated these barriers, such as instances where individuals were told they were faking their symptoms, were "crazy" or hypersensitive, or unable to be helped. We will discuss the ways barriers to accessing and continuing mental health treatment can be addressed in order to facilitate destigmatizing, understanding, and compassionate treatment opportunities for people who dissociate.
