Fighting stigma on individual level
Research has shown that interpersonal contact with members of the stigmatized group has been effective for reducing prejudice. For instance some studies found that contact with a person with mental illness produced more positive attitudes and also greater improvements in willingness to help people with mental illness, such as through advocacy and money donation. This shows that personal contact appears to be among the best strategies for reducing mental illness stigma. The kind of contact is however crucial for a positive outcome and needs to disconfirm prevailing stereotypes, otherwise stigmatizing attitudes may be reinforced and therefore even become stronger. For the “optimal” contact, there are several factors that can create an advantageous environment. These include equal status among individuals, cooperative interaction, common goals, informal setting and institutional and society support for contact initiative.
Public stigmatization can lead to internalization and thereof self-stigma. Self-stigma in turn leads to poor self-esteem and poor sense of self-efficacy, a belief in own abilities and control of own life. Self-stigma is problematic to access since it is difficult to distinguish if it is a reaction of public discrimination or the result of a mental disorder. It can also be both. However, regardless of the exact causes of poor self-esteem and self-efficacy, empowerment of people with mental illness has been shown to be a way of reducing stigma. An individual with a strong sense of personal empowerment has both high self-esteem and self-efficacy. The person is not put down by symptoms or labels, has a positive outlook and is an active participant in own recovery. Empowerment can be strengthen though family member support, through peer support and advocacy groups and also through communities and health service providers, by giving patients greater control over their own treatment and reintegration into community. Find education, training and peer support programs near you, here. See references: Byrne, P.(2000), Corrigan, P.W. (Ed.). (2005), Corrigan, P.W., Kerr, A., & Knudsen, L. (2005), Evans-Lacko, S., Brohan, E., Mojtabai, R., &Thornicroft, G. ( 2012), Hinshaw, S.P. (2007), Rüsch, N., Angermeyer. M.C., & Corrigan, P., W. (2005). |