Coping with the stigma of mental illness: An interpretive descriptive study of out-patients in a public mental health hospital in Ghana

Stigma reduces the status of individuals from full social acceptance, motivating the stigmatized person to find ways to cope with the perceived threat as much as possible. The present study explored the experience of dealing with a mental illness daily within the public space. We applied an interpretive description method using a semi-structured interview guide to elicit subjective responses from 12 purposefully recruited outpatients. Study participants described various ways through which individuals coped with their illness, including secrecy, avoidance/withdrawal, relaxation techniques, confrontation, ignoring the stigmatizing agent, ingroup comparisons, and engaging in diversion activities. The participants' observations suggest they were unhappy about how society perceived and treated them. To deal with stigma, multifaceted approaches of active engagement with the public, healthcare providers, policymakers, and government are needed to mitigate the phenomenon. The study revealed various ways through which individuals can cope with their illness. These include keeping things secret, avoiding or withdrawing from public places, using relaxation techniques, confronting or ignoring the stigmatizing agent, and engaging in activities that will take one's mind off their problems. Policymakers should prioritize addressing systemic factors contributing to stigma, such as poverty, inequality, and limited access to education and health resources.