Examining the Influence of Mental Health on Self-Stigma in a Mexican Prison

Abstract

Prisons in Mexico, like other countries, struggle to house and effectively treat individuals with mental illness. This study on 194 male Mexican prisoners managing mental disorders aims to 1) explore what mental health symptomology is associated with self-stigma and 2) identify what mental health symptomology predicts increased self-stigma. Results found that depression, mania, and anger significantly predicted harm to self-esteem scores, and education and mania significantly predicted agreement and application subscales. Given the increased number of imprisoned individuals with mental illness in Mexico and minimal treatment available, these findings support the importance of implementing self-stigma interventions within prisons.

Keywords:

• Stigma
• prisoners
• mental health
• Latinx
• Mexico

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by A Universdad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) PAPIME Grant.

Notes on contributors

Berenice Pérez-Ramírez

Dr. Berenice Pérez Ramírez is currently a Full-time Professor-Researcher at the National School of Social Work of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (SNI Level 1). Her main lines of research are: gender studies, body studies, trans issues, disability and prison. As of 2018, she works with people who have been diagnosed with psychosocial disability in prison and with the staff of these centers.

Juan J. Barthelemy

Dr. Juan J. Barthelemy has about 20 years of practice experience working with at-risk African American youth. Dr. Barthelemy’s research focuses on community engagement strategies to reduce juvenile violent crime. He has been funded to conduct research focused on community capacity building, violence intervention development and implementation, and monitoring the effects of group violence reduction strategies on homicides and other violent crimes

Robin E. Gearing

Dr. Robin E. Gearing is a Professor of Social Work and the Director of the Center for Mental Health Research and Innovation in Treatment Engagement and Service (MH-RITES). Dr. Gearing’s research focuses on improving the mental health outcomes of adolescents and young adults with serious mental illnesses and their families. His research is driven by an interest in informing and improving engagement to empirically-supported psychosocial and medication treatment and developing evidence-based interventions.

Lindamarie Olson

Lindamarie Olson is currently a PhD candidate focusing her research on intervening with at-risk youth to reduce justice system involvement and promote positive youth development. This intervention research will explore and examine the effects of trauma-informed care and neuroscience on cognitive, mental health, and behavioral change within this population.

Natalia Giraldo-Santiago

Natalia Giraldo-Santiago is currently a Ph.D. candidate whose program of research focuses on bridging the gap between formal and informal pathways of care with the goal of improving the quality of life of Hispanics and Latinxs in the United States. Natalia's research seeks to address disparities by examining the quality, effectiveness, and cultural grounding of health and mental health interventions.

Luis R. Torres

Dr. Luis R. Torres is Founding Dean and Professor of the School of Social Work at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. His current research interests include health disparities, social determinants of health, co-occurring mental health, substance use and medical disorders, and family-strengthening efforts with a focus on Hispanic communities.