Understanding and Influencing the Stigma of Mental Illness

作者：Patrick William Corrigan, Abigail K. Wassel · 发表于：Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services · 年份：2008 · DOI：10.3928/02793695-20080101-04 · 被引用次数：289 · 研究领域：Mental Health Treatment and Access、Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development、Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology

Life goals and the opportunities that define them are impaired by the stigma of mental illness. Three kinds of stigma may act as barriers to personal aspirations: public stigma, self-stigma, and label avoidance. Challenging mental illness stigm is essential in helping individuals accomplish recovery-related goals. Public stigma may be changed through protest, education, and contact. Self-stigma can be addressed by fostering group identity, changing the perceived legitimacy of stigma through cognitive rehabilitation, and making strategic decisions about disclosing one's mental health history. Stigma change for label avoidance is not as well understood but may include the education and contact approaches used for public stigma. Evidence-based approaches to stigma change need to be substantiated by rigorous investigations.