A Qualitative Exploration of Addiction Disclosure and Stigma among Faculty Members in a Canadian University Context

Bibliographic Data

ID15501763
AuthorsVictoria Burns (0000-0001-6755-9712, University of Calgary, corresponding author), Victoria F Burns (University of Calgary), Christine A Walsh (0000-0002-0945-0185, University of Calgary), Jacqueline M Smith (0000-0003-1567-7391, University of Calgary), Jacqueline Smith (0000-0002-2813-7872, University of Calgary)
Year2021
Volume18
Issue14
Pages7274-7274
Publication date2021-07-07
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph18147274
PMID34299723
OpenAlexW3181127567
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited43

Addiction is one of the most stigmatized public health issues, which serves to silence individuals who need help. Despite emerging global interest in workplace mental health and addiction, scholarship examining addiction among university faculty members (FMs) is lacking, particularly in a Canadian context. Using a Communication Privacy Management (CPM) framework and semi-structured interviews with key informants (deans and campus mental health professionals), this qualitative study aimed to answer the following research questions: (1) What is the experience of key informants who encounter FM addiction? (2) How may addiction stigma affect FM disclosure and help-seeking? and (3) What may help reduce addiction stigma for FMs? Thematic analysis was used to identify three main themes: (1) Disclosure was rare, and most often involved alcohol; (2) Addiction stigma and non-disclosure were reported to be affected by university alcohol and productivity cultures, faculty type, and gender; (3) Reducing addiction stigma may involve peer support, vulnerable leadership (e.g., openly sharing addiction-recovery stories), and non-discriminatory protective policies. This study offers novel insights into how addiction stigma may operate for FMs in relation to university-specific norms (e.g., drinking and productivity culture), and outlines some recommendations for creating more recovery-friendly campuses

Addiction · Context (archaeology · Mental health · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Sociology · Stigma (botany · Thematic analysis · Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes · Healthcare professionals’ stress and burnout · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology

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