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Samuel Nathan, Psy.D., is a 2018 graduate of the Psy.D. Program in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, New England

Dissertation Committee:

  • James Fauth, PhD, Committee Chair
  • Lorraine Mangione, PhD, Committee Member
  • Cynthia Whitaker, PsyD, Committee Member

Keywords

self-stigma, help-seeking behavior, peer-support, podcast

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2018

Abstract

Mental illness (MI) is a major problem in the United States, with significant economic, emotional, and physical impacts on individuals with MI, their loved ones, and their employers. Many of those who could benefit from treatment do not seek it out, despite the researched benefits of mental health care. The self-stigma (SS) associated with MI is a well-documented obstacle to help-seeking behavior. Mental health professionals have tried, with mixed results, to combat SS and encourage help-seeking. Individuals with MI have found and supported one another, forming a community and successfully advocating for reforms to the mental health system. Contemporary peer support organizations, while continuing to advocate for change on a systemic level, additionally focus on encouraging health and help-seeking behavior for those living with MI. The Mental Illness Happy Hour (MIHH) podcast is a weekly audio interview, freely available via the internet, in which the host and a guest discuss firsthand experiences of living with MI, the legacies of trauma and substance abuse, and experiences in treatment. The aim of this study was to determine if any relationship could be identified between listening behavior and change in attitudes relative to the presence and treatment of MI. The Impact of Listening Behavior (ILB) scale, a brief self-report measure, was developed for the study. Results show that respondents feel their attitudes towards the presence and treatment of MI have improved relative to their listening behavior. Small but significant inverse correlations were found between the Duration of Listening (DL) and several ILB items, suggesting a relationship between listening and improved attitudes among a self-selecting sample of MIHH listeners.

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Samuel Nathan

ORCID Scholar ID# 0000-0002-0767-5006

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