Overprotection and stigma by compassion in mental health professional practice

Despite their training, mental health personnel exercise stigma towards the users they serve, which generates important consequences. Considering the scarcity of research in Latin America, this study explored stigma towards mental health users in Chile, focusing on expressions of devaluation. A qualitative study was conducted that included the perspective of users and mental health workers at the secondary level of care. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were subjected to thematic analysis. The results showed that users are perceived as incapable of managing their lives and treatment responsibly. Overprotection dynamics are built, where professionals provide help outside the therapeutic setting because they believe that users cannot resolve difficulties independently. The users value this aspect and evaluate this relationship as affectionate. In this regard, professionals experience tension about the appropriate parameters of their role. These findings have serious implications. Despite implementing care models that emphasize user autonomy, distrust in their capabilities hinders agency promotion. What we call " stigma by compassion” is generated, which captures the contradiction between positive feelings towards the user and devaluing attitudes towards them from the mental health personnel. Finally, it is important to recognize that professionals must deal with needs derived from structural conditions. Healthcare institutions should consider this to facilitate therapeutic action while preventing an overprotective relationship with users.