key: cord-1033181-wwwerb5k
authors: Tehrani, Hadi
title: Mental Health Stigma Related to novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) in elderly
date: 2020-07-08
journal: Geriatr Gerontol Int
DOI: 10.1111/ggi.13985
sha: 3447c7e44f9daf94c25901cc47bc01ace5b9c699
doc_id: 1033181
cord_uid: wwwerb5k

nan

With the spread of the Coronavirus, especially among the elderly, and the growing fear and anxiety, the issue of coronavirus stigma with the elderly or those associated with the elderly has become a major social concern.

Stigma is an annoying social force associated with a multitude of traits, conditions, and social groups. Explanations for Mental Health stigmatized include the social situation, which suggests people become classified as undesirable due to possessing a certain attribute or demonstrating certain behaviors. In turn, this attitude leads to generalized stigma towards a subsection of society; in this case, people who experience illness 4 . Any number of attributes or conditions can be stigmatizing, including Infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Mental Health Stigma due to COVID-19 causes older people to hide early symptoms of the disease and do not seek health care because of fear of discriminatory behavior. Thus, this stigma reduces the reluctance of this elderly of patients to perform tests, not looking for other healthcare services, non-commitment to treatment and non-disclosure of disease. Even the elderly who do not have the disease but have common characteristics and symptoms (such as cough or fever) may suffer from this stigma. Evidence clearly shows that stigma and fear of communicable diseases prevent responding to the disease

The hypothesis that older people are more likely to have Coronavirus Leads that people in the community are less likely to communicate with the elderly. This leads to the isolation of older people. Therefore, Mental Health Stigma can weaken social cohesion and lead to social isolation in the elderly 5 .

The Mental Health Stigma of having a COVID-19 causes the elderly with a Coronavirus in addition to enduring the pain and stress of illness and fear of death, they also tolerate the negative attitudes and feelings public such as rejection, humiliation and other kinds of discrimination by society. So, it looks like the consequences and problems of the COVID-19related Mental Health Stigma it is more painful for the elderly than itself the disease.

Elderly people with COVID-19 experience three types of stigma:1-self-stigma that the elderly feels deficient and inability. 2-Stigma from family who reject them. 3-Stigma by society who discriminate against the elderly and cause problems in their full integration into society. Selfstigma reduces self-esteem, feels shame, and not asking for help comes from others. Stigma from family and society leads to more social isolation, and not use of social opportunities. including stigma and discrimination among the elderly. Therefore, in order to prevent and control Coronavirus, it is important to pay attention to COVID-19 -related Mental Health Stigma, especially in the elderly.

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The author declared no competing interests.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.