Breaking Barriers to Healing: Confronting Stigma in Mental Health Treatment

Abstract
Stigma is a central contributor to mental health disparities. Stigma can be understood as the societal lens that casts individuals as inferior due to circumstances, behaviors, statuses, or identities. This lens affects individuals internally, in their relationships, and through structural elements in society. Extensive research tells us that stigma, in all its forms, is linked to increased mental health challenges like depression, PTSD, and suicidality among those with stigmatized identities, such as people of Color and transgender youth. This connection is largely because stigmatized individuals face higher levels of trauma, discrimination, and ongoing stressors.

Today, there is a growing need for effective mental health care for stigmatized populations. Inequities in the severity of mental health problems, diagnosis, and treatment have persisted over time, with gaps widening during the pandemic. These disparities can largely be traced back to stigma operating at multiple levels: (1) internalized stigma, where individuals adopt harmful beliefs due to their environment, (2) interpersonal stigma, where people experience prejudice and discrimination, and (3) structural stigma, which includes laws, policies, norms, and attitudes that negatively affect stigmatized groups.

In this plenary session, Dr. Maggi Price will delve into cutting-edge research on stigma and its impact on mental health treatment, with a particular focus on structural stigma. She will outline three future research directions in this field: (1) directly addressing stigma, including stigma-based trauma, within treatment, (2) enhancing therapist training to provide culturally responsive care, and (3) exploring multilevel interventions to tackle stigma comprehensively. Dr. Price will draw from her own research, including meta-analyses on structural stigma's influence on psychotherapy effectiveness and her intervention work with transgender youth. The session will conclude with Dr. Price's recommendations for best practices in mental health treatment for stigmatized clients. Join us as we explore ways to navigate stigma in mental health for a more inclusive and equitable future.

Potential to Distress: No

This recorded conference session was originally presented as part of a live conference in April 2024.

Target Audience

Those seeking to participate in this webinar must be licensed mental health professionals (psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, mental health counselors, accredited psychotherapists, etc.). ISSTD staff will audit license information prior to the start of the course and may request additional documentation for your license.

We do accept students enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree or certification in the mental health field and who have an interest in trauma and dissociation. Students must submit proof of student status such as a transcript or registration record. For those who have completed their degree and are currently in the pre-licensure stage practicing under the license of another clinician, you must provide the name and license information for the person you are working with. Documentation should be sent to ISSTD staff at [email protected] before registering. 

This webinar content is at the beginning/introductory level.

Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this presentation, participants will be able to:

  • Define stigma and its impact on mental health
  • Identify the types of mental health issues associated with stigma
  • Recognize the disparities in mental health care between stigmatized and privileged groups
  • Discuss strategies for addressing stigma in mental health treatment
  • Explain the importance of culturally responsive care and multilevel interventions in mental health support for stigmatized individuals

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.
Course opens: 
01/31/2025
Course expires: 
12/31/2050
ISSTD Member cost:
$35.00
Your Price:
$55.00
Part of: 
The Healing Power of Dignity in the Treatment and Research of Complex Trauma & Dissociation - Day Three
Rating: 
0

Maggi Price, PhD

Dr. Maggi A. Price (she/her) is a licensed psychologist, mental health disparity and intervention researcher, and an Assistant Professor at Boston College, in the School of Social Work. She completed her clinical and research training at Boston College, Harvard University, and Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Price's primary research focus centers on the reduction of mental health disparities, particularly among stigmatized youth populations, including transgender youth and youth of Color. Her research efforts are bifurcated into two core domains: (1) Examination of Mental Health Inequities: Dr. Price conducts rigorous analyses of existing data to better understand the factors contributing to disparities in mental health outcomes. Of particular interest is the investigation of structural stigma, encompassing laws, policies, and societal norms that impede the rights and well-being of stigmatized individuals. (2) Development of Interventions to Promote Mental Health Equity: Collaborating closely with affected communities, Dr. Price is dedicated to devising pragmatic and multilevel interventions aimed at rectifying mental health disparities. A significant aspect of her ongoing intervention research concentrates on enhancing mental health services and school-based supports for transgender youth. Dr. Price's contributions to the field have earned her numerous accolades and prestigious fellowships from both local and national entities, including the National Institute of Mental Health and the American Psychological Association. Her intervention research has been supported by grants from Boston College, the American Psychological Foundation, and a distinguished Early Career Award from the National Institute of Mental Health. For comprehensive details regarding Dr. Price's research and her research lab, the Affirm Lab, please visit www.affirmlab.org.

Available Credit

  • 1.50 APA
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
  • 1.50 ASWB ACE
    The International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD), #1744, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 1.50 continuing education credits.
  • 1.50 ISSTD Certificate Program
    This program is eligible for 1.50 credits in the ISSTD Certificate Program. No certificate of completion is generated for this type of credit.

Price

ISSTD Member cost:
$35.00
Your Price:
$55.00
Please login or register to take this course.

"Your Price" above reflects your final price based on your membership status and career level. 

  • ISSTD defines a student as those enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree or certification in the mental health field and who have an interest in trauma and dissociation. 
  • ISSTD defines an emerging professional as mental health professionals who have completed an advanced degree and are in the first three years of their career (or first three years after graduation for researchers).
  • If you do not fall into one of the above categories please register as Professional/Retired. 

These prices are for Tier I countries. For a list of countries by Tier click here. If you are located in a country that falls into Tier II-VI please contact ISSTD at [email protected] to receive the appropriate discount code.

Registration Policies

All purchases of recorded content are final.

For additional webinar policies including completion requirements, filing grievances, requesting a disability accommodation, and awarding of certificates of credits, please visit our Policies page.