Reducing stigma and discrimination: Candidate interventions

<p>Abstract</p> <p>This paper proposes that stigma in relation to people with mental illness can be understood as a combination of problems of knowledge (ignorance), attitudes (prejudice) and behaviour (discrimination). From a literature review, a series of candidate interventions...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kassam Aliya, Brohan Elaine, Thornicroft Graham, Lewis-Holmes Elanor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2008-04-01
Series:International Journal of Mental Health Systems
Online Access:http://www.ijmhs.com/content/2/1/3
Description
Summary:<p>Abstract</p> <p>This paper proposes that stigma in relation to people with mental illness can be understood as a combination of problems of knowledge (ignorance), attitudes (prejudice) and behaviour (discrimination). From a literature review, a series of candidate interventions are identified which may be effective in reducing stigmatisation and discrimination at the following levels: individuals with mental illness and their family members; the workplace; and local, national and international. The strongest evidence for effective interventions at present is for (i) direct social contact with people with mental illness at the individual level, and (ii) social marketing at the population level.</p>
ISSN:1752-4458