Reducing stigma towards people with mental illness

7:00am Saturday 6th September 2008

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A simple, illustrated leaflet can be effective in reducing negative attitudes towards people with mental illness, according to a study published in the September issue of the Psychiatric Bulletin.

Previous research has shown that negative attitudes towards people who are mentally ill are widespread. People with schizophrenia, alcoholism and drug addiction are the most stigmatised of all those with mental disorder.

In this study, the researchers aimed to devise a simple technique to reduce stigmatised attitudes of the general public towards those with schizophrenia and substance misuse.

Four hundred members of the public completed a questionnaire to measure stigmatised attitudes towards people with schizophrenia and substance misuse. Participants were then split into two groups.

The control group received simple descriptions of cases of schizophrenia, drug dependence or alcoholism. For example: “John was injecting heroin daily for one year.”

The experimental group received a short ‘upbeat’ leaflet with a description of a patient in remission, accompanied by a photograph of smartly-dressed male model. For example: “Chris was injecting heroin daily for one year. He is now in treatment and he is not using heroin or any other illegal drugs. He is working full-time.”

Results were received for 310 participants (77%). The leaflet produced a large and statistically significant reduction in stigmatised attitudes towards people with drug dependence and alcohol dependence, but less so towards people with schizophrenia.

The researchers suggest this is possibly because people have a more generous attitude towards patients who have overcome substance misuse disorders. In contrast, people with schizophrenia tend not to be held responsible for their condition, and are therefore not given credit for recovering from illness.

Nonetheless, the researchers conclude that it is worthwhile promoting positive images of people with substance misuse disorders who are in recovery, in an attempt to reduce stigma. Such leaflets could be used widely on a population basis, or targeted to specific groups such as employers or landlords.