Books, Articles and Research

Attitude of the university students and teachers towards mentally ill, in Lahore, Pakistan
This study was carried out to assess the attitude of university students and teachers in Lahore, Pakistan.

Stigma and psychiatric illness. A survey of attitude of medical students and doctors in Lahore, Pakistan.
This study was carried out to assess the attitude of medical students and doctors, attending medical colleges in Lahore, Pakistan.

Higher education and psychiatric disabilities: National survey of campus disability services
This article reports the results of a survey of disability services offices at colleges and universities in 10 States.

Mental health literacy in an educational elite: An online survey among university students
The aims of this paper are to determine whether a sample of university students recognise different symptoms of depression and schizophrenia and to reveal factors influencing correct recognition. 

Addressing media stigma for people experiencing mental illness using an entertainment-education strategy
This study examines the effects of entertainment-education strategy on knowledge acquisition about schizophrenia and stigma reduction.

University students' attitudes towards mental patients and psychiatric treatment
This study examined university students' attitudes towards different information regarding a person labeled as mentally ill.

School-age children's perceptions of mental illness
The purpose of this study was to describe how school-age children perceive mental illness.

Reaching out to high school youth: The effectiveness of a video-based antistigma program
This study evaluted the impact on Canadian high school students of a video-based antistigma program portraying real life experiences of individuals with schizophrenia. It also includes lesson plans to guide classroom discussions and active learning.

Homicidal maniacs and narcissistic parasites: stigmatization of mentally ill persons in the movies
The portrayal of mentally ill persons in movies and television programs has an important and underestimated influence on public perceptions of their condition and care. The authors suggest that mental health professionals can fight this source of stigma by increasing their collaboration with patient advocacy groups in monitoring negative portrayals of mentally ill people,

Impact of a television film on attitudes toward mental illness
This tudy investigated the impact of a prime time television film portraying a mentally ill killer on public attitdues of college students.

From Brother?s Death, a Crusade
The death of her only brother, and the discovery that he had hidden his struggles with mental illness from his friends and family for years after he began hearing voices, rocked Ms. Malmon?s world, and by her junior year led her to start the student group that evolved into Active Minds Inc., a nonprofit organization with student-run chapters on 65 campuses, devoted to increasing awareness of mental illness.

Campus mental health services: Recommendations for change
College officials indicate that the number of students with serious mental illnesses has risen significantly. Media attention surrounding several high profile suicides has opened discussion of mental illness on campus. The authors summarize literature on college students and mental illness, including barriers to service receipt. Recommendations to improve campus-based responses for persons with a serious mental illness are presented on the basis of well-accepted service principles.

Evaluating the effectiveness of a consumer-provided mental health recovery education presentation
The current study investigated the effectiveness of the In Our Own Voice (IOOV) mental health education program in improving knowledge and attitudes about mental illnesses.  

Will filmed presentations of education and contact diminish mental illness stigma?
This study examines the impact of two versions of anti-stigma programs-education and contact-presented on videotape. 

Comparing life experiences of college students with differing courses of schizophrenia in Korea: Case studies
The objective of this study was to identify how daily experiences of college students with schizophrenia reflected the course of their disease.

Public awareness of the effectiveness of psychiatric treatment may reduce stigma
Stigmatization is of importance in mental disorders. It is widely believed that one of the most important factors in stigmatization is considering the patients as dangerous. This study aims at analyzing the impact of knowledge regarding the chances of treating mental illness.

The influence of information on social and occupational outcome in mental illness on the attitudes of students in Turkey
This article attempts to evaluate the influence of a series of determinants of stigmatization of mental illness.

Effects of an antistigma program on medical students' attitudes toward people with schizophrenia
The purpose of this study was to examine whether an antistigma program which consists of education, contact, and viewing a film that depicts an individual with schizophrenia, can change attitudes towards people with schizophrenia.

Is education of health professionals encouraging stigma towards the mentally ill?
A study in which students in a Boston area nursing school were offered the opportunity to take a battery of tests before and after receiving health education, training and experience regarding mental illness, in order to analyze their attitudes after being exposed to health education.

Examination of attitudes toward disabilities among college students: Rural and urban differences
The purpose of the study was to examine rural versus urban differences with respect to the Attitudes Toward Disabled Persons survey (ATDP), the Scale of Attitudes toward Disabled Persons (SADP), and the Rehabilitation Situations Inventory (RSI).

Talking about mental illness: An evaluation of an anti-stigma and educational program in Hamilton, Ontario
An evaluation of the "Talking About Mental Illness" program and its effectiveness in decreasing stigmatizing attitudes and increasing understanding of mental illness.

Stigma interventions and research for international health
This paper is one of several delivered at an international conference, Stigma and Global Health: Developing a Research Agenda, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health's Fogarty International Center (FIC) in September 2001. The paper includes a definition of health-related stigma and six research objectives, based on the stigma definition.

Does stigma concerning mental disorders differ through medical education? A survey among medical students in Istanbul
The aim of this study is to determine the attitudes of medical students toward mentally disabled people and to understand the impact of schooling on attitude difference by evaluating second and sixth year medical students.

Working with young people: The impact of mental health awareness programmes in schools in the UK and Canada
The persistent and disabling nature of psychiatric stigma has led to the establishment of global programmes to challenge the negative stereotypes and discriminatory responses that generate social disability, but these initiatives are rarely evaluated. This study compares the effectiveness of school-based interventions with young people aged 14-16 aimed at increasing mental health literacy and challenging negative stereotypes associated with severe mental illness in sites in Canada and the UK.

Appropriate language in discussing mental illness
A brief article discussing the use of appropriate language, when discussing mental illnesses. Following these suggestions can help to communicate acceptance and understanding.

Design and initial results from a supported education initiative: The Kansas Consumer as Provider program
This article describes the Consumer as Provider (CAP) Training program at the University of Kansas School of Social Welfare, which creates opportunities for individuals with severe psychiatric disabilities to develop knowledge and skills to be effective as human service providers.

Personal accounts: Help-seeking preferences of high school students: The impact of personal narratives.
Based on the author's personal experience with mental illness, she initiated a study to examine help-seeking behavior of adolescents and if an educational presentation aided in this behavior.

School based youth health nurses' role in assisting young people access health services in provincial, rural and remote areas of Queensland, Australia.
This study was undertaken to explore the referral role of the School Based Youth Health Nurse Program in provincial, rural and remote Queensland and to ascertain the availability of referral services.

A primary mental health-care model for rural Australia: Outcomes for doctors and the community
To address the high rate of depression and suicide in rural Australia requires a multifaceted approach to educate the community, improve the skills of health workers and provide user-friendly patient counselling. This paper describes a model that covers each of these aspects and details the outcomes with respect to the doctors and the community.

United States and Japanese college students' attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help
The purpose of the study was to find how nationality, sex, and past experience of seeking professional psychological services among Japanese students are related to attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help.

Helping carers care: An education programme for rural carers of people with a mental illness
An article providing descriptive information about a short-term educational program for caregivers of people with a mental illness, living in rural Australia.

Challenging stigma and discrimination in communities: A focus group study identifying UK mental health services users' main campaign priorities
This study was conducted to explore mental health service users' views on how campaigns to address stigma and discrimination should prioritise their actions

Effects of an educational program on public attitudes towards mental illness
The World Psychiatric Association promotes global anti-stigma programs. However, evaluation research is crucial to developing effective programs. The present study examined the effects of a lecture on mental health on public attitudes towards mental illness. Subjects were recruited from individuals employed by private companies and the government. Attitudes towards mental illness were measured using the Mental Illness and Disorder Understanding Scale developed by the authors and the Scale of Negative Attitudes Towards the Independence of People with Mental Disorders. Test scores obtained before and after the lecture were compared. The results demonstrated that scores on both scales improved significantly. The present study suggests the effectiveness of this type of educational program in reducing stigma attached to mental illness and disorder.

Barriers to higher education for individuals with psychiatric disabilites
This qualitative study explored the college experiences of 35 people with psychiatric disabilities, in order to study barriers to higher education.

At issue: Stop the stigma: Call mental illness a brain disease
Educating the public that mental illness is a brain disease is a popular strategy for combating mental illness stigma. Evidence suggests that while such an approach reduces blame for mental illness, it may unintentionally exacerbate other components of stigma, particularly the benevolence and dangerousness of stigmas. Researchers propose a balanced approach that combats the various myths about mental illness with factual information.

Structural levels of mental illness stigma and discrimination
In this article, using a sociological paradigm, we apply the concepts of structural discrimination to broaden our understanding of stigmatizing processes directed at people with mental illness.

From stigma to discrimination: An analysis of community efforts to reduce the negative consequences of having a psychiatric disorder and label
This study reports the results of a first step national survey of noteworthy on-the-ground efforts to reduce the negative consequences of having a psychiatric disorder and label. The sample consists of nontraditional, innovative local efforts along with wellknown programs.

Changing middle schoolers' attitudes about mental illness through education
An article discussing the effectiveness of a curriculum supplement for middle school assessing their knowledge and attitudes about mental illness.

A unitary theory of stigmatization: Pursuit of self-interest and routes to destigmatisation
This paper discusses the development of a theoretical foundation to help comprehend the core meaning of stigmatisation and to guide practical anti-stigmatisation measures.

Violence by people discharged from acute psychiatric inpatient facilities and by others in the same neighborhoods 
The public perception that mental disorder is strongly associated with violence drives both legal policy (eg, civil commitment) and social practice (eg, stigma) toward people with mental disorders. This study describes and characterizes the prevalence of community violence in a sample of people discharged from acute psychiatric facilities at 3 sites. At one site, a comparison group of other residents in the same neighborhoods also was assessed.  

Report of the Surgeon General's conference on children's mental health: A national action agenda
This report introduces a blueprint for addressing children's mental health needs in the United States.

Drop the stigma: To keep kids from lashing out, parents must urge them to accept help
An article in which Tipper Gore addresses the need for parents and adults to "erase the stigma that prevents our kids from getting the help they need for their mental health."

Real shame
People with psychiatric disabilities often are shunned. Ensconced in a separate array of interventions that are isolating and insulating, people with psychiatric disabilities also can be discredited with a mental-health specific language. This essay asks the mental health leadership to help align psychiatric disability with other disabilities. The author suggests relational advocacy, advocacy that does not disparage people who experience mood swings, fear, voices and visions.

Changes in public attitudes to depression during the Defeat Depression Campaign
A study completed to analyze the success rate of the campaign, "Defeat Depression," in changing public attitudes towards depression.

Children's beliefs about people labeled mentally ill
A group of 104 third-grade students told stories in response to pictures of adults labeled mentally ill, physically disabled, or unlabeled, and answered questions regarding expected behavior of these adults. Results indicate that children of this age hold more overall negative attitudes about adults labeled mentally ill than about those designated as physically disabled or nondisabled.

Dispelling the stigma of schizophrenia: II. The impact of information on dangerousness
This study addressed a relatively neglected topic in schizophrenia: identifying methods to reduce stigma directed toward individuals with this disorder. The study investigated whether presentation of information describing the association between violent behavior and schizophrenia could affect subjects' impressions of the dangerousness of both a target person with schizophrenia and individuals with mental illness in general.

Empowerment and serious mental illness: Treatment partnerships and community opportunities
Two targets of empowerment are discussed in this paper: treatment partnerships and community opportunities. Strategies that enhance treatment partnerships include provider endorsement of recovery rather than promoting an approach that suggests poor prognoses, treatment plans that are collaborative rather than unilateral decision making that is perceived as coercive, and treatment services provided in the person's community rather than geographically or psychological distant institutions.

From whence comes mental illness stigma?
This paper seeks to answer two fundamental questions: What is the basis of the current form of mental illness stigma? and Why do western cultures stereotype people with mental illness as dangerous, incompetent and blameful, rather than something else?

Special section on stigma as a barrier to recovery: Introduction
The aim of this special section is to elucidate the adverse effects of stigmatization on the recovery of people with mental illness.

Student perceptions of persons with psychiatric disabilities and other disorders
This study examined the attitudes of cohorts of occupational therapy and business students toward persons with psychiatric and other disorders.

The paradox of self-stigma and mental illness
?Published narratives by persons with serious mental illness eloquently describe the harmful effects of stigma on self-esteem and self-efficacy. However, a more careful review of the research literature suggests a paradox; namely, personal reactions to the stigma of mental illness may result in significant loss in self-esteem for some, while others are energized by prejudice and express righteous anger.?

Child and adolescent mental health: Recommendations for improvement by state mental health commissions
Between June, 1997, and October, 2001, commissions in 13 states issued reports on the status of mental health in their state, and needed improvements. The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors and Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute convened a meeting in 2002, to review the findings from these commission reports for the purpose of identifying their primary policy implications both at the federal and state level of government. This brief manuscript specifically focuses on the findings and recommendations with regard to children and adolescents, and their families.

President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health
The Commission?s mission was to study the United States mental health service delivery system, including both private and public sector providers. The Commission advised the President on methods to improve the system. The Commission?s goal was to recommend improvements that will enable adults with a serious mental illness and children with a serious emotional disturbance to live, work, learn, and participate fully in their communities.

Psychiatric disabilities in postsecondary education: Universal design, accommodations and supported education
This article calls for increased awareness and academic support for students with psychiatric disabilities in postsecondary education. The limited literature in this area is reviewed and the authors correct misunderstandings about these types of disabilities and provide information to increase faculty, administrator, and staff awareness regarding the rights and needs of postsecondary students with psychiatric disabilities. 

Myths about Madness: Challenging stigma and changing attitudes
This video training tool exposes the myths surrounding afflictions of the mind and challenges discrimination against the mentally ill. It includes interviews with mental health professionals, journalists, researchers, and people who have themselves been through the mental health system.

Implications of educating the public on mental illness, violence, and stigma
This study examined how two types of public education programs influenced how the public perceived persons with mental illness, their potential for violence, and the stigma of mental illness. 

Students with mental illnesses in a university setting: Faculty and student attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and experiences
The purpose of this article is to discuss post-secondary supported education for people with severe and persistent mental illnesses and describe one university's strategy for improving the educational environment of students with psychiatric disabilities. The researchers present findings from a survey designed to assess faculty and student attitudes, beliefs, knowledge, and experiences with students identified as having a mental illness.

Neuroscience and mental health education: A multimedia curriculum and teacher education project for middle school children
This study evaluated a mental health and drug awareness program for fifth grade students presented by the Hult and Crown Health Education Centers (HHEC and CHEC).

Student mental health: Secondary education no more
A brief article discussing the increase in students who are reporting more mental health problems and how college campuses are responding to the growing need.

Effects of a unit in mental health on rural adolescents' attitudes about seeking help and concepts of mental illness
The present study investigated the effects of a unit of instruction in mental health on rural adolescents' conceptions of mental illness and their attitudes about seeking professional help for emotional problems.

Reducing psychiatric stigma and discrimination: Evaluation of educational interventions in UK secondary schools
Study assessing the effectiveness of an intervention with young people aimed at increasing mental health literacy and challenging negative stereotypes associated with severe mental illness.

Stigma: the feelings and experiences of 46 people with mental illness: Qualitative study
This study was conducted in order to describe the relationship of stigma with mental illness, psychiatric diagnosis, treatment and its consequences of stigma for the individual.