Schreiber and McEnany (2015) address the major problem of stigma in the United States military concerning mental health. Military personnel are contending not only with combat trauma, but a significant percentage are also having to deal with military sexual trauma (MST). Fear of being stigmatized, hurting career prospects, being taken from their units or seen as unfit keep servicemen and women from seeking the help they need. Technological formats for care, including apps, virtual reality and web-based care are being used to reduce stigma and give more of a sense of anonymity and safety from being outed. The aforementioned deliveries of care have been proven to reduce stigma and further positive advances through education and freely available information on coping skills.
The authors’ research covers a wide variety of strategies that have been implemented or are being tried at the moment to deliver care and reduce stigma in military personnel concerning mental health issues. The authors believe that it is not a question of whether or not the methods work, but whether or not they will be implemented to the fullest, funded and allowed to work. They have thoroughly documented the culture of stigma and impediments to addressing the all too pervasive mental health challenges of the latest generation at war.
In a study about technology usage among patients with psychotic disorders in Portugal, de Almeida, Sousa, Marques and Queiros (2018) found that mobile phones and computers were the most commonly utilized by participants. Most were already using mobile technology and were willing to use applications to manage their illness. Only 23% of the participants did not have a mobile phone, which shows how ubiquitous they are already. However, as predicted, older people may need more technology literacy courses in order to reap the benefits of mobile applications that may be indicative of these generations even in the United States. Older patients were also less willing to use a mobile phone to help manage their illness. Clearly, there is a population sector that will have more challenges harnessing the power of innovation and technology, yet the younger generations may start by setting the pace and giving even more evidence of their usefulness in their care and autonomy.
My goal is to likewise harness the power of technology in my practice as much as possible, yet respect the wishes and culture of individuals that may or may not be open to using them. I would encourage their use as another tool, yet I would not hesitate to replace it if the patient does not find it beneficial and therapeutic. Nonetheless, I am hopeful and look forward to the possibilities, as Schreiber and McEnany (2015) found how mobile apps and technology were so useful in circumventing the barriers of stigma and fear of being found out, and were also effective in delivering therapeutic results.
References
de Almeida, R. S., Sousa, T., Marques, A., & Queirós, C. (2018). Patients’ Perspectives About the Design of a Mobile Application for Psychotic Disorders. Psychology, Community & Health, 7(1), 16–28. https://doi-org.libpublic3.library.isu.edu/10.5964/pch.v7i1.192
Schreiber, M., & McEnany, G. P. (2015). Stigma, American military personnel and mental healthcare: challenges from Iraq and Afghanistan. Journal Of Mental Health, 24(1), 54-59.
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