Ethical Issues associated with research and applications in the area

of healthy minds and mental health issues

Diagnosis
● Only professional trained in psychiatric classification can make a formal diagnosis
● Diagnosis is based on the medical model in DSM IV. Extensive training in the recognition of
symptoms, causes, signs, symptoms and treatments is needed before diagnosing mental health
disorders.

Stigma
● Mental diagnosis can be both helpful and harmful
● May feel relieved to receive a diagnosis as it explains symptoms and gives hope for treatment
● May be harmful as it carries a stigma. The person being labelled may hide their illness and
become ashamed of who they are.
● May find it hard to get employment, make friends, once labelled.
● Prejudice against people with mental illness is widespread in society. Makes it difficult for people
to feel like they belong. May be target of discrimination or abuse.
● Media are guilty of labelling mentally ill people as ‘mad’ or ‘bad’ or ‘sad’. Ignorance breeds fear
and this has negative consequences fore people with a mental illness.

Treatment
● If a person is considered a danger to themselves or others – they can be detained – voluntary
psychiatric wards in hospitals must ensure no harm comes to patients.
● Historically institutions did not care for the wellbeing of people with mental illness.
● Society has an ethical responsibility to uphold the dignity of people with a mental illness.
Historically this has not occurred as people were often institutionalised much longer than
necessary.

Informed Consent
● Clients with mental health disorders are vulnerable and may not understand what is happening to
them.
● Need to be careful gaining consent

Withdrawal Rights
● Clients need to be able to stop therapy at any point, however as they are vulnerable they may not
recognise the need for this, or alternatively may attempt to stop therapy when it is needed

Confidentiality
● Must be maintained between the psychologist and the client

Voluntary participation
● There is a fine line between voluntarily undergoing treatment for psychological health issues and
forcing a person to receive treatment for their own good. Responsibility of the psychologists to
take care of the patient’s wellbeing.