The Experience and Impact of Stigma among Youth in Psychiatric Outpatient Treatment:
The Role of the Family, School and Peers/Partners
This webinar will discuss the process of stigmatization and explore the experiences and influence of stigma associated with mental illness in youth, aged 13-24 years, who are currently in psychiatric outpatient treatment. Specifically, the webinar will explore the youths’ awareness of how their larger cultural context holds pejorative viewpoints towards those with mental illness, and their reported experiences of stigma within their families, school settings, and social (e.g. peer and romantic) networks. The webinar will also discuss how ‘labeling’ may influence the self-concept or developing identity of these youth and how the strategies in which these youth engage to manage a stigmatized identity may place them at risk for poor outcomes. Finally, the webinar will discuss the implications of these findings for providers in reducing experiences of stigma in the lives of these youth.
Learning Objectives:
To understand the concept of stigmatization and how it occurs
To understand how youth in psychiatric treatment experience stigma across multiple domains or areas of their life
To understand the possible effects of these stigma experiences on youth
To begin to think about ways in which providers (e.g. teachers, mental health workers, guidance counselors, nurses, etc.) who work with these youth can help to reduce stigma.
Dr. Katherine Elkington is a licensed clinical psychologist, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology (in Psychiatry) and Associate Training Director at the HIV Center for Clinical and behavioral Studies, Columbia University and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Her work examines the role of individual (e.g. mental illness and substance abuse), familial and structural (e.g. stigma) correlates in HIV/STI risk behavior in vulnerable populations, including youth in psychiatric treatment, youth involved in the juvenile justice system, and youth perinatally infected with HIV. Dr. Elkington’s work also focuses on using the findings of her correlates work to develop and evaluate the efficacy of HIV/STI prevention interventions for vulnerable youth populations. She is currently the PI of “Developing a Family-Based HIV/STI Prevention Intervention for Youth on Probation,” (K01MH089832l PI: Elkington) a grant to develop and pilot test a family-based HIV/STI prevention intervention for youth on probation. Dr. Elkington also has clinical experience working with adolescents with a variety of psychiatric and substance use disorders and their families.
Sylvia Huntley, MS, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry Center for School Mental Health, Secretary of ASHA Mental Health Professionals Section
Katherine Elkington, Ph.D. - 
Sylvia Huntley, MS, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry Center for School Mental Health, Secretary of ASHA Mental Health Professionals Section