Challenging the Stigma of Mental Illness (eBook)

Patrick W. Corrigan is Distinguished Professor and Associate Dean for Research in the Institute of Psychology, Illinois Institute of Technology. Previously, he was principal investigator of the Chicago Consortium for Stigma Research, the only NIMH-funded research centre examining the stigma of mental illness. He is Editor of the American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation. David Roe is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Community Mental Health, University of Haifa, Israel. He serves on the editorial board of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences.A Hector W. H. Tsang is Associate Professor and Program Director for the BSc in Occupational Therapy at the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He serves on the editorial board of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling.

About the Authors ix

Foreword: Robert Lundin xi

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xxi

1 Stigma is Personal 1

2 Understanding and Measuring Stigma 23

3 Challenging the Public Stigma of Mental Illness 55

4 Addressing Self-Stigma and Fostering Empowerment 115

5 Addressing Structural Stigma 169

6 Stigma as Social Injustice 189

References 199

Learn More About It: Resources and Chapter References by Jennifer D. Rafacz 207

Index 225

"In this unique text aimed at therapists, those in helping professions, patients, and families in the US and Europe, Corrigan (psychology, Illinois Institute of Technology) et al. outline practical strategies for addressing the major forms of stigma of mental illness: public stigma, prejudice and discrimination endorsed by general society; self-stigma, the loss of self-esteem and efficacy that occurs when a person internalizes prejudice and discrimination; and structural stigmas, the social forces shaped by public stigma . . . some sections of the book were taken from Corrigan and Robert Lundin's Don't Call Me Nuts! Coping with the Stigma of Mental Illness (2001), and this volume updates many of its ideas with recent research." (Booknews, 1 June 2011)



"This is a book for everyone - for our patients, healthcare professionals and the general public. The issues surrounding stigma are raised without underestimating complexity, while still making the concepts understandable. Challenging the Stigma of Mental Illness explores the promising pathways, as well as those that will have unintended consequences. It ends, as all books on this subject should, with a rallying call for parity for those with mental illness.
--Til Wykes, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Rehabilitation, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London

"Stigma as social injustice is a powerful message that permeates this book. It reminds us that people with a mental illness are, first and foremost, people with a mental illness. It challenges us to find ways to ensure that they realize the same rights and entitlements that the rest of us take for granted. It compels us to actively seek avenues of redress through multi-disciplinary and multi-sectoral activities that combine best practices in research with best practices in social advocacy and social change. This is a must-read for professionals and practitioners alike.
--Professor Heather Stuart, Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Canada

"This book starts with a personal approach to stigma - especially its horrendous consequences for individuals and families - and ends with the important pronouncement that stigma is an example of social injustice Along the way, it provides conceptually driven yet highly practical and useable strategies for combating stigma at multiple levels. An invaluable resource for anyone interested in countering the huge issue of mental illness stigma; bravo!"
--Stephen Hinshaw, Ph.D., Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology, University of California

"Drawing on both the latest research and personal experience, this book is an easy-to-read, practical and, at times, inspiring guide on how to reduce the stigma of mental illness in all its forms."
--Professor Anthony Jorm, Orygen Youth Health Research Centre, University of Melbourne.

"In Challenging the Stigma of Mental Illness, the authors offer an invaluable resource - based upon the direct experiences of people with mental heath problems - on what practical measures can minimise stigma and which, if pursued with real commitment, may one day see such stigma become an issue of merely historical interest."
-- Professor Graham Thornicroft, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London