Stigma and mental health professionals: A review of the evidence on an intricate relationship

Abstract

In the past decade, mental health professionals have initiated a number of national and international efforts against the stigma of mental illness. While largely successful in beating stigma and discrimination, these programmes have, in part, been criticized to be largely uninformed by the lived realities of people with mental illness and their families. Some critics claimed that anti-stigma efforts led by mental health professionals were in fact a concealed attempt at de-stigmatizing psychiatry itself as a profession. This paper will attempt to throw light on the various ways in which mental health professionals are 'entangled' in anti-stigma activities. It will outline the complex relationships between stigma and the psychiatric profession, presenting evidence on how its members can simultaneously be stigmatizers, stigma recipients and powerful agents of de-stigmatization. In exploring the role of mental health professionals as targets of stigma, new findings will be presented on the role of stigma as a professional stressor in psychiatry. Conclusions will be drawn on how the pursuit of professional self-interest can be a legitimate goal of anti-stigma programmes. Further, ways in which acknowledging psychiatry's own agenda can contribute to both credibility and success of fighting stigma from within psychiatry will be discussed.

Effects of a Documentary Film on Public Stigma Related to Mental Illness Among Genetic Counselors

“…Of the three levels at which stigma operates, public stigma (defined as the phenomenon whereby large social groups have negative attitudes towards and beliefs about, and even act against those with a disenfranchised trait -like mental illness (Corrigan and Watson 2002)) has received the greatest attention. Public stigma related to mental illness has been investigated in a broad range of groups including the general public Kobau et al 2009), students (Brown 2008;Chan et al 2009;Corrigan et al 2001;Faigin and Stein 2008;Mann and Himelein 2008;Penn et al 1994;Reinke et al 2004) police , and mental health workers Schulze 2007). In all groups in which public stigma has been investigated, negative beliefs about, and attitudes and behaviors towards individuals with mental illness have been identified.…”

Discussing the psychiatric manifestations of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: an exploration of clinical practice among medical geneticists

“…18,19 It is relevant to note that psychiatric disorders are among the most profoundly stigmatized of all health conditions, and negative attitudes toward these conditions have been identified in many groups including the general public, [20][21][22][23] students, 24 police, 25 mental health workers, 26,27 and genetic counselors. 28,29 Medical geneticists' attitudes toward individuals with psychiatric disorders, and the relationships between these attitudes and clinical practice regarding disclosure of information about psychiatric risks, have not been previously studied.…”

O estigma atribuído pelos psiquiatras aos indivíduos com esquizofrenia

“…Regarding the question of whether psychiatrists stigmatize or not their patients, the first thing to be taken into account is that they possibly hold stigmatizing beliefs while giving socially desirable answers 11,12 . Some authors call this the "not in my back yard" (NIMBY) phenomenon, implying to be open-minded and tolerant as long as the individual's privacy or interests are not involved but if so, he or she becomes as stigmatizing and discriminating as everybody 36 .…”

“…One can intuitively think that mental health professionals would be best-prepared to deal with individuals with mental disorders and therefore hold the least stigmatizing attitudes. However, at present, research has not succeeded to fully confirm this hypothesis 12 .…”

“…Finally, further studies show that attitudes towards individuals with mental disorders are at least equal between professionals and the general public 17,18 . But it has also been reported that mental health professionals have more positive attitudes toward them in specific dimensions 12 .…”