Misra publishes research on stigma and mental illness among U.S. racial and ethnic minority groups

"Assistant Professor of Public Health Supriya Misra published an article titled “Systematic Review of Cultural Aspects of Stigma and Mental Illness among Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups in the United States: Implications for Interventions” in the American Journal of Community Psychology in April. Misra and co-authors write, 'We conducted a systematic review to identify empirical studies on cultural aspects of mental illness stigma (public, structural, affiliative, self) among three racial and ethnic minority groups (Asian Americans, Black Americans, Latinx Americans) from 1990 to 2019, yielding 97 articles. Stigma tended to be higher among the racial and ethnic minority groups than White comparison groups. Stigma has similar and unique cultural aspects across the three racial and ethnic minority groups. Four major cultural themes emerged: 1) service barriers including access and quality, 2) family experiences including concealment for family's sake, fear of being a burden, and stigma extending to family, 3) lack of knowledge about mental illness and specific cultural beliefs, and 4) negative emotional responses and coping. We conclude that these cultural insights can inform contextual change at the health systems and community levels to reduce stigma, and empowerment at the interpersonal and individual levels to resist stigma.' "

Feature From: SF State's CHSS Connection Newsletter, June 2021