TY - JOUR

T1 - Dyad conversations about self-stigma in two Scottish communities

AU - Mackay, Rob

AU - Bradstreet, Simon

AU - Mcarthur, Andy

AU - Dunion, Linda

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - Objective: This study explored self-stigma in 2 Scottish communities and strategies for challenging stigma and discrimination. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used encompassing a survey including the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Inventory (ISMI) and facilitated dyad conversations with people with lived experience of mental illness. Results: Self-reported experience of self-stigma across 2 communities was most closely associated with the ISMI Alienation cluster, accompanied by a high level of agreement with the Stigma Resistance cluster. Some 44% agreed that stereotypes about people with mental health problems applied to them, and almost 2/3 felt that having a mental health problem had spoiled their lives. Many participants reported reduced confidence, loss of hope, a sense of failure, and protecting oneself through social withdrawal. The findings also offer hope through narratives from people who have “pushed back” and are striving to reduce their own self-stigma by engaging with others and managing their own recovery journey. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: The journey through self-stigma and beyond has to be informed by what we know works with recovery from a mental health problem. At a policy and practice level, we recommend emphasis on 4 priorities: (a) refocusing antistigma and discrimination efforts more on the experiences of people who report stigma, (b) rights-based approaches, (c) identity-based work, and (d) information sharing and educational strategies

AB - Objective: This study explored self-stigma in 2 Scottish communities and strategies for challenging stigma and discrimination. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was used encompassing a survey including the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Inventory (ISMI) and facilitated dyad conversations with people with lived experience of mental illness. Results: Self-reported experience of self-stigma across 2 communities was most closely associated with the ISMI Alienation cluster, accompanied by a high level of agreement with the Stigma Resistance cluster. Some 44% agreed that stereotypes about people with mental health problems applied to them, and almost 2/3 felt that having a mental health problem had spoiled their lives. Many participants reported reduced confidence, loss of hope, a sense of failure, and protecting oneself through social withdrawal. The findings also offer hope through narratives from people who have “pushed back” and are striving to reduce their own self-stigma by engaging with others and managing their own recovery journey. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: The journey through self-stigma and beyond has to be informed by what we know works with recovery from a mental health problem. At a policy and practice level, we recommend emphasis on 4 priorities: (a) refocusing antistigma and discrimination efforts more on the experiences of people who report stigma, (b) rights-based approaches, (c) identity-based work, and (d) information sharing and educational strategies

KW - a mental illness and

KW - constraining effects of stigma

KW - empowerment

KW - modern power

KW - narratives

KW - of concerns with enhancing

KW - on that journey

KW - prospects of recovery from

KW - reducing the

KW - resistance

KW - self-stigma

KW - the initiative was

KW - the positive

KW - this research arose out

U2 - 10.1037/prj0000149

DO - 10.1037/prj0000149

M3 - Journal article

VL - 38

SP - 194

EP - 200

JO - Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal

JF - Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal

SN - 1095-158X

IS - 2

ER -