MH and Stigma

Question 1

What is stigma?

Answer 1

Hayward and Bright
- negative effects of a label placed on any individual/group including those with diagnosed MH problems

has 3 components

• prejudice
• discrimination
• ignorance

Question 2

what does stigma focus on?

Answer 2

prejudice and badly educated people

• people with MH problems are violent
• depressed people are lazy
• suicide is selfish

Question 3

What is discrimination?

Answer 3

an act preventing those with MH equal access

• no inviting someone for an interview
• sacking someone for having MH problems
• a physical act of preventing

Question 4

Time to change survey (2004)

Answer 4

less than 40% of employers said they’d hire someone with MH

Question 5

Time to change survey (2008)

Answer 5

87% respondents reported negative impacts of stigma

46% accessing employment was particularly worrying due to stigma and discrimination

Question 6

Thornicroft et al (2009)

Answer 6

cross-sectional study including 27 countries and over 700 participants with schizophrenia

negative discrimination experienced by

• 47% in making/keeping friends
• 29% in funding a job and keeping a job

anticipated discrimination experienced by

• 64% in applying for work, training or education
• 72% felt needed to conceal diagnosis

Question 7

Thornicrot (2006)

Answer 7

MH is socially damaging

Question 8

Sharac et al (2010)

Answer 8

MH contributes to social and economic burden

• internalisation of public beliefs
• loss of productivity
• lower rates of income/employment
• contribute to negative outcomes

Question 9

Rose et al (2011)

Answer 9

qualitative study of 75 schizophrenic patients using thematic analysis

• lack of understanding from personal sources and public
• shunned/rejected by those around
• mocked/teased by close friends and others
• abused - police/MH staff, physically, sexually by family or friends

Question 10

Evans-Lacko et al (2012)

Answer 10

public stigma in 14 European countries comparing high vs low stigma

those countries with less stigma

• higher help-seeking rates
• lower rates of self-stigma and perceived discrimination
• felt more empowered to talk and less self-stigma

Question 11

would you tell your boss about you MH issues?

Answer 11

1 in 5 wouldn’t out of fear of being fired

Question 12

World’s maddest job interview (Channel 4, 2012)

Answer 12

all 3 employers wouldn’t hire someone with MI

• got to be on their game
• must be able to rely on my staff

Question 13

Rose et al (2007)

Answer 13

most frequent terms expressed in a MH study

• nuts
• scary
• disturbed
• psych
• loony
• crazy

Question 14

how to tackle stigma

Answer 14

education
campaigns
contact

Question 15

how many people does stigma prevent from getting help?

Answer 15

40% of people with anxiety and depression avoid seeking help due to stigma

Question 16

according to the NHS (2018) how many adults and children experience MH?

Answer 16

1 in 4 adults

1 in 10 children

Question 17

7 steps to reduce stigma

Answer 17

1) educate yourself
2) be aware of your attitudes
3) choose words carefully
4) educate others
5) focus on positives
6) support people
7) include everyone