Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Changing Stigma Through a Consumer-Based Stigma Reduction Program

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Community Mental Health Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study assessed the Anti-Stigma Project workshop, a contact/education intervention developed by On Our Own of Maryland, Inc. and the Maryland Mental Hygiene Administration. Two separate randomized controlled trials administered pre- and post-test questionnaire assessments. One included people with mental illness (N = 127) and a second included mental health providers (N = 131). Post-intervention, people with mental illness were more aware of stigma, had lower levels of prejudice, and increased belief in recovery. Providers were more aware of stigma, had lower levels of prejudice, and increased concurrence in self-determination of people with mental illness. Increasing providers’ stigma awareness and recognition can promote higher quality service delivery. Increasing stigma awareness and recognition for people with mental illness can foster confidence in overcoming psychiatric disabilities. Using a participatory action research team, our protocol included extant and newly developed stigma change tools. Organizations seeking to conduct effective evaluation studies should consider collaborative processes including the expertise of affected constituents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Borras, L. L., Boucherie, M. M., Mohr, S. S., Lecomte, T. T., Perroud, N. N., & Huguelet, P. H. (2009). Increasing self-esteem: Efficacy of a group intervention for individuals with severe mental disorders. European Psychiatry, 24(5), 307–316.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cechnicki, A., Angermeyer, M. C., & Bielańska, A. (2011). Anticipated and experienced stigma among people with schizophrenia: Its nature and correlates. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 46(7), 643–650.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cook, J. A., Jonikas, J. A., & Razzano, L. (1995). A randomized evaluation of consumer versus nonconsumer training of state mental health service providers. Community Mental Health Journal, 31(3), 229–238.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., Edwards, A., Green, A., Diwan, S. E., & Penn, D. L. (2001a). Prejudice, social distance, and familiarity with mental illness. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 27, 219–226.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P., Giffort, D., Rashid, F., Leary, M., & Okeke, I. (1999). Recovery as a psychological construct. Community Mental Health Journal, 35(3), 231–239.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., Larson, J., Sells, M., Niessen, N., & Watson, A. C. (2007). Will filmed presentations of education and contact diminish mental illness stigma? Community Mental Health Journal, 43(2), 171–181.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., Markowitz, F., Watson, A., Rowan, D., & Kubiak, M. A. (2003a). An attribution model of public discrimination towards persons with mental illness. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 44, 162–179.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., Morris, S. B., Michaels, P. J., Rafacz, J. D., & Rüsch, N. (2012a). Challenging the public stigma of mental illness: A meta-analysis of outcome studies. Psychiatric Services, 63(10), 963–973.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., & Penn, D. L. (1999). Lessons from social psychology on discrediting psychiatric stigma. American Psychologist, 54(9), 765–776.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., Powell, K., & Michaels, P. J. (2012). Measurement of stigmatizing versus affirming attitudes about mental illness: Psychometrics of a brief outcome battery. Manuscript submitted for publication.

  • Corrigan, P. W., River, L., Lundin, R. K., Penn, D. L., Uphoff-Wasowski, K., Campion, J., et al. (2001b). Three strategies for changing attributions about severe mental illness. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 27(2), 187–195.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P., Salzer, M., Ralph, R., Sangster, Y., & Keck, L. (2004). Examining the factor structure of the recovery assessment scale. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 30, 1035–1041.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., & Shapiro, J. R. (2010). Measuring the impact of programs that challenge the public stigma of mental illness. Clinical Psychology Review, 30, 907–922.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P., Thompson, V., Lambert, D., Sangster, Y., Noel, J. G., & Campbell, J. (2003b). Perceptions of discrimination among persons with serious mental illness. Psychiatric Services, 54(8), 1105–1110.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., Watson, A. C., & Barr, L. (2006). The self-stigma of mental illness: Implications for self-esteem and self-efficacy. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 25(8), 875–884.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammond, K. (1948). Measuring attitudes by error-choice: An indirect method. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 43(1), 38–48.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leff, J., & Warner, R. (2006). Social inclusion of people with mental illness. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2001). Conceptualizing stigma. Annual Review of Sociology, 27, 363–385.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Link, B. G., Struening, E. L., Neese-Todd, S., Asmussen, S., & Phelan, J. C. (2001). Stigma as a barrier to recovery: The consequences of stigma for the self-esteem of people with mental illnesses. Psychiatric Services, 52(12), 1621–1626.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Link, B., Yang, L., Phelan, J., & Collins, P. (2004). Measuring mental illness stigma. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 30(3), 511–541.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Livingston, J. D., & Boyd, J. E. (2010). Correlates and consequences of internalized stigma for people living with mental illness: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Social Science and Medicine, 71(12), 2150–2161.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MacInnes, D. L., & Lewis, M. M. (2008). The evaluation of a short group programme to reduce self-stigma in people with serious and enduring mental health problems. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 15(1), 59–65.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Michaels, P. J. & Corrigan, P. W. (2013). Measuring mental illness stigma with diminished social desirability effects. Journal of Mental Health. doi:10.3109/09638237.2012.734652.

  • Overton, S. L., & Medina, S. L. (2008). The stigma of mental illness. Journal of Counseling and Development, 86(2), 143–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rusch, L. C., Kanter, J. W., Angelone, A. F., & Ridley, R. C. (2008). The impact of in our own voice on stigma. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 11(4), 373–389.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadow, D., & Ryder, M. (2008). Reducing stigmatizing attitudes held by future health professionals: The person is the message. Psychological Services, 5(4), 362–372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SAMHSA (2011). Mental illness: What a difference a friend makes. (n.d.). Retrieved Oct 12, 2011, from http://www.whatadifference.samhsa.gov/.

  • Schmetzer, A. D., & Lafuze, J. E. (2008). Overcoming stigma: Involving families in medical student and psychiatric residency education. Academic Psychiatry, 32(2), 127–131.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schulze, B. (2007). Stigma and mental health professionals: A review of the evidence on an intricate relationship. International Review of Psychiatry, 19(2), 137–155.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sharac, J., McCrone, P., Clement, S., & Thornicroft, G. (2010). The economic impact of mental health stigma and discrimination: A systematic review. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 19(3), 223–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thornicroft, G., Brohan, E., Rose, D., Sartorius, N., & Leese, M. (2009). Global pattern of experienced and anticipated discrimination against people with schizophrenia: A cross-sectional survey. The Lancet, 373(9661), 408–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tourangeau, R., & Yan, T. (2007). Sensitive questions in surveys. Psychological Bulletin, 133(5), 859–883.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tsang, H. H., Tam, P. C., Chan, F., & Cheung, W. M. (2003). Stigmatizing attitudes towards individuals with mental illness in Hong Kong: Implications for their recovery. Journal of Community Psychology, 31(4), 383–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wahl, O. (1999). Mental health consumers’ experience of stigma. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 25(3), 467–478.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, A. C., Otey, E., Westbrook, A. L., Gardner, A. L., Lamb, T. A., Corrigan, P. W., et al. (2004). Changing middle schoolers’ attitudes about mental illness through education. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 30(3), 563–572.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whitley, B. E. (2002). Principles of research in behavioral science (2nd ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This document was developed under Grant MHTSIG SM57459 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. The authors gratefully acknowledge input and insight from staff at the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Mental Hygiene Administration, in particular from Daryl Plevy, JD, Deputy Director of the Mental Hygiene Administration and Maryland Mental Health Transformation Grant Project Director.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Illinois Institute of Technology, 3424 S State Street, Chicago, IL, 60616, USA

    Patrick J. Michaels, Patrick W. Corrigan & Blythe Buchholz

  2. On Our Own of Maryland, Inc., Baltimore, MD, USA

    Jennifer Brown, Thomas Arthur, Clarissa Netter & Kim L. MacDonald-Wilson

  3. Community Care Behavioral Health, 1 East Uwchlan Ave., Suite 311, Exton, PA, 19341, USA

    Kim L. MacDonald-Wilson

Authors
  1. Patrick J. Michaels
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Patrick W. Corrigan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Blythe Buchholz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jennifer Brown
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Thomas Arthur
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Clarissa Netter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Kim L. MacDonald-Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patrick J. Michaels.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Michaels, P.J., Corrigan, P.W., Buchholz, B. et al. Changing Stigma Through a Consumer-Based Stigma Reduction Program. Community Ment Health J 50, 395–401 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-013-9628-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-013-9628-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation