Recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month: Internalized Stigma

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Recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month: Internalized Stigma

Posted on 05.16.23

During Mental Health Awareness Month, we are drawing on our experience working with Veterans and VA to share helpful information and resources regarding mental health.

More than one-third of Veteran populations with SMI have moderate to severe internalized stigma. The Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Centers (PRRCs) work with Veterans to reduce that stigma.

Internalized stigmas are generally negative beliefs or stereotypes patients hold about their mental health condition(s). Individuals with SMI and other mental health conditions frequently experience stigma from many sources (e.g., providers, family members, and employers). As a result, they subsequently internalize stigmatizing beliefs about their mental illness. Perceived internalized stigma has been associated with worsening psychiatric symptoms, avoiding health services, and suicidal behaviors. Consequently, it is essential to combine clinical management of mental illness with programs that help reduce internalized stigma and facilitate the use and effectiveness of mental healthcare provision.

High levels of stigma in Veteran populations have been identified as a notable predictor of Veterans not taking medications for mood issues or not getting appropriate treatment for their mental health. VHA established the PRRCs to provide Veterans with the necessary support and education to facilitate functional recovery. Aptive HTG’s Clay Hunt Evaluation Program is an annual third-party independent evaluation of nine VA mental health programs and suicide prevention services. The Clay Hunt Evaluation has found that PRRC is highly effective at reducing internalized stigma, promoting activities to overcome and eliminate internally and externally induced stigma, and teaching patients to advocate for themselves to reduce stigma.

Experience

OUR WORK

Health Care for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans

Health Care for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) program office to improve health care and access for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans. Aptive helped operationalize the VA’s new Office of Tribal Health, which equips VHA with senior executive leadership, guidance, strategic direction and policy to support health care, access, and Fourth Mission activities for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans. Aptive completed an extensive functional review with over 45 stakeholders and subject matter experts that informed the Office of Tribal Health’s mission, vision, values and scope. We drafted position descriptions, managed recruiting efforts, onboarded employees and developed the Office of Tribal Health charter identifying purpose, strategy and stakeholders. The work also includes developing and implementing communications and change management plans.

 

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Evaluation of Nationwide Mental Health Care Delivery

Evaluation of Nationwide Mental Health Care Delivery

Identifying what works and what doesn’t could help the federal government make the wisest investments in suicide prevention initiatives. For the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, we facilitate a panel review of best practices for suicide prevention programs. Our team of mental health and other professionals analyze more than nine national datasets, including clinical records, to develop the annual report to Congress that evaluates mental health, suicide prevention and substance use program outcomes, cost effectiveness and patient satisfaction and summarizes best practices in mental health care delivery, including a focus on virtual mental health services. We are also developing an annual report to Congress on VA’s compliance with opioid prescription practice guidelines.

 

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President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS)

President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS)

We provide project management, reporting, implementation and evaluation of VA suicide prevention programs in support of PREVENTS and an ongoing Executive Order. In April 2021, PREVENTS transitioned to the Office under the direction of the VA National Director of Suicide Prevention.

 

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Mental Health and Special Populations

For too many individuals suffering from mental health disorders, accessing treatment is difficult or cost-prohibitive, exacerbated by deficiencies in policymaking and program implementation.

Aptive’s team of behavioral health scientists, policy leaders and program implementation experts understand the necessity of engaging entities across interdisciplinary sectors to address mental health issues and reduce suicide rates.

Our experts design, build and implement custom prevention strategies, research studies, frameworks and approaches to meet organizational needs, specifically focusing on supporting underserved populations.

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