Understanding the Stigma of Mental Illness: Theory and Interventions (World Psychiatric Association)

Many mentally ill people are the victims of stigma, which leads to additional suffering and humiliation. Negative stereotypes and prejudicial attitudes against them are often reinforced by their media representation as unpredictable, violent and dangerous. Hence the importance of the study of stigma as an explanatory construct of much that transpires in the management of the mentally ill in our societies. This book describes the experience of stigmatization at the level of the individual, and seeks to measure stigma and discrimination from the following perspectives: Self imposed stigma due to shame, guilt and low self esteem; Socially imposed stigma due to social stereotyping and prejudice; and Structurally imposed stigma, caused by policies, practices, and laws that discriminate against the mentally ill. This book briefly describes programmes that aim to reduce such stigma then looks at ways to evaluate their effectiveness. It is the first book to focus on evaluation and research methodologies in stigma and mental health. It also: presents new interventions to reduce stigma describes the various international programmes which help reduce stigma discusses the use of the internet as an international tool to promote awareness of stigma in mental health Understanding the Stigma of Mental Illness is essential reading for clinicians and researchers who wish to apply or develop stigma reduction programmes. It is also a valuable addition to the libraries of political analysts, policy makers, clinicians, researchers, and all those interested in how to approach and measure this distressing social phenomenon.

many Mentally Ill People Are The Victims Of Stigma, Which Leads To Additional Suffering And Humiliation. Negative Stereotypes And Prejudicial Attitudes Against Them Are Often Reinforced By Their Media Representation As Unpredictable, Violent And Dangerous. Hence The Importance Of The Study Of Stigma As An Explanatory Construct Of Much That Transpires In The Management Of The Mentally Ill In Our Societies.


This Book Describes The Experience Of Stigmatization At The Level Of The Individual, And Seeks To Measure Stigma And Discrimination From The Following Perspectives: Self Imposed Stigma Due To Shame, Guilt And Low Self Esteem; Socially Imposed Stigma Due To Social Stereotyping And Prejudice; And Structurally Imposed Stigma, Caused By Policies, Practices, And Laws That Discriminate Against The Mentally Ill.


This Book Briefly Describes Programmes That Aim To Reduce Such Stigma Then Looks At Ways To Evaluate Their Effectiveness. It Is The First Book To Focus On Evaluation And Research Methodologies In Stigma And Mental Health. It Also:


* Presents New Interventions To Reduce Stigma

* Describes The Various International Programmes Which Help Reduce Stigma

* Discusses The Use Of The Internet As An International Tool To Promote Awareness Of Stigma In Mental Health.


Understanding The Stigma Of Mental Illness Is Essential Reading For Clinicians And Researchers Who Wish To Apply Or Develop Stigma Reduction Programmes. It Is Also A Valuable Addition To The Libraries Of Political Analysts, Policy Makers, Clinicians, Researchers, And All Those Interested In How To Approach And Measure This Distressing Socialphenomenon.

Understanding the Stigma of Mental Illness......Page 4 Contents......Page 8 List of contributors......Page 10 Foreword......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 1 The rights of a powerless legion......Page 16 2 Cross-cultural aspects of the stigma of mental illness......Page 34 3 The WPA Global Programme against Stigma and Discrimination because of Schizophrenia......Page 52 4 ‘Fighting stigma and discrimination because of schizophrenia – Open the Doors’: a collaborative review of the experience from the German project centres......Page 64 5 Stigma and health care staff......Page 84 6 Evaluating programmatic needs concerning the stigma of mental illness......Page 100 7 Using the Internet for fighting the stigma of schizophrenia......Page 140 8 Building an evidence base for anti-stigma programming......Page 150 9 Other people stigmatize . . . but, what about us? Attitudes of mental health professionals towards patients with schizophrenia......Page 162 10 Implementing anti stigma programmes in Boulder, Colorado and Calgary, Alberta......Page 176 11 Stigma measurement approaches: conceptual origins and current applications......Page 190 Appendix Inventories to measure the scope and impact of stigma experiences from the perspective of those who are stigmatized – consumer and family versions......Page 208 Index......Page 220 The rights of a powerless legion Fighting stigma and discrimination because of schizophrenia "Open the Doors": a collaborative review of the experience from the German project centers La esquizofrenia abre las puertas: the World Psychiatric Association programme to reduce the stigma and discrimination because of schizophrenia in Spain Cross-cultural issues on the stigma of mental illness The WPA global programme against stigma and discrimination because of schizophrenia Evaluating programmatic needs on stigma of mental illness Using the Internet for fighting the stigma of schizophrenia Building an evidence base for anti-stigma programming Other people stigmatize?: but, what about us?: attitudes of mental health professionals towards patients with schizophrenia Implementing a local anti-stigma programme Stigma measurement approaches: conceptual origins and current applications. Understanding the stigma of mental illness is the first book that focuses on evaluation and research methodologies in stigma and mental health. It presents new interventions to reduce stigma with respect to mental health, so it is useful for clinicians and researchers who wish to apply or develop these or similar programmes. Understanding the stigma of mental illness also describes various international programmes to help reduce stigma about mental health issues. Finally it discusses the use of the internet as an international tool to promote awareness of stigma in mental health