Nicole Joseph

Mentor: Judith Shindul-Rothschild, Professor in Nursing

Title: ‘Are We There Yet?’: Mental Illness and Treatment Adherence in Jamaican Communities

Attitudes toward mental illnesses and treatment adherence are typically negative in the Jamaican community. Non-compliance to treatment simultaneously diminishes the effectiveness of health advice and medical prescriptions ultimately leading to decreased quality of life.  The aim of this research is two-fold: (1) to explore the attitudes of those within the Jamaican community toward mental illness and treatment adherence, and (2) to examine the historical context and cultural practices that influence these views.