Countering the stigmatisation and discrimination of people with mental health problems in Europe

Abstract

Poor mental health has substantial personal and economic impacts across the European Union. Stigma and discrimination exacerbate these impacts. Consistently, the evidence points towards strongly negative attitudes towards people with mental health problems: in particular there is an inaccurate view that they represent a danger to the community, a view strongly reinforced in the media. Negative attitudes are not only found among the general public and media, but even among mental health professionals. These and other elements of stigma increase social distance and lead to social exclusion: they, for instance, reduce the likelihood of an individual becoming employed or accessing health care services. It is important that strategies to counter stigma are evidence-based. To date evidence on both their effectiveness and cost effectiveness is highly limited. Anti-stigma campaigns are difficult to evaluate but the limited evidence available suggests that campaigns targeted at specific population groups such as the police or school children may be more effective than those for the general population. Other measures to consider include investment in schemes to help individuals reintegrate into employment, schemes to increase the empowerment of people with mental health needs to choose the services that best meet their needs, and better enforcement and exchange of information on the use of legal instruments to tackle discrimination. This Research Note has been produced for the European Commission by David McDaid from the Health and Living Conditions Network of the European Observatory on the Social Situation and Demography. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the European Commission European Commission Directorate-General Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Unit E1 Social and Demographic Analysis Manuscript completed in May 2008 European Commission

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