The Stigma of Mental Illness Models and Methods of Stigma Reduction

Stigma is one of the major barriers to care for people with mental health and related disorders. Stigma includes negative beliefs about and hostile perceptions towards others, shame and self-stigma, discriminatory practices in hiring, promotion and recognition of people who suffer from mental health challenges, and structural and organizational policies and processes that result in inequalities for people who have mental health challenges. Stigma has been recognized as a significant factor in the well-being of people with mental health and related problems and can be more debilitating than the direct effects of mental health problems themselves.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) was established to conduct policy reviews and to promote initiatives related to mental health. The Opening Minds program of the MHCC is the largest systematic effort in Canadian history to reduce stigma related to mental illnesses. The program has adopted the systematic development, evaluation and deployment of targeted programs based on theories of change, best practices and available research evidence as a model for stigma reduction.

The Stigma of Mental Illness is an important vehicle to communicate conceptual issues in the field of stigma reduction, to document the work done to date within the MHCC Opening Minds program, and to offer practical strategies to broaden the scope and utility of the work for different contexts, cultures, and countries. This volume will be a global interest, given the growing importance of stigma reduction related to mental disorders and related problems.

Keith S. Dobson (PhD, Western University) is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Calgary in Canada. Dr. Dobson's research has resulted in over 290 published articles and 80 chapters, 19 books, and conference and workshop presentations in many countries. In addition to his
research, Dr. Dobson has been actively involved in organized psychology in Canada, including a term as President of the Canadian Psychological Association. He is a former President of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, the International Association for Cognitive Psychotherapy, the Canadian
Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies, and President of the World Confederation of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. Dr. Dobson is also a Principal Investigator for the Opening Minds program of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, with a focus on stigma reduction related to mental
disorders in the workplace. Among other awards, he was given the Canadian Psychological Association's Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Profession of Psychology, the Donald O. Hebb Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Science of Psychology, the CPA Award for Distinguished
Contributions to the International Advancement of Psychology, and the CPA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Heather Stuart, MA (Sociology, University of Western Ontario), PhD (Epidemiology, University of Calgary) is a Full Professor in the Departments of Public Health Sciences, Psychiatry, and the School of Rehabilitation Therapy at Queen's University. She also holds the Bell Canada Mental Health and
Anti-stigma Research Chair at Queen's. Professor Stuart is also the Senior Consultant to the Mental Health Commission of Canada's Opening Minds, Anti-stigma initiative and the past Chair and current Secretary of the World Psychiatric Association's Stigma and Mental Health Scientific Section. She is
a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a recipient of the Order of Canada.

Preface
Contributors
Chapter 1: Prejudice and Discrimination Related to Mental Illness
Keith S. Dobson and Heather Stuart
Chapter 2: Prejudice and Discrimination Related to Substance Use Problems
Shu-Ping Chen and Heather Stuart
Chapter 3: Best and Promising Practices
Heather Stuart
Chapter 4: Measuring Structural Stigma
Thomas Ungar and Stephanie Knaak
Chapter 5: The Assesment of Mental Health Stigma in the Workplace
Keith S. Dobson and Andrew C. H. Szeto
Chapter 6: Measuring Opioid-Related Stigma
Stephanie Knaak and Heather Stuart
Chapter 7: Stereotype and Social Distance Scales for Youth
Michelle Koller and Heather Stuart
Chapter 8: The Opening Minds Stigma Scale for Health Providers
Stephanie Knaak and Scott Patten
Chapter 9: Best Practices in Antistigma Programming Targeting Youth
Michelle Koller and Heather Stuart
Chapter 10: Stigma Reduction in Postsecondary Settings: Moving From Individual Initiatives to Holistic Mental Health Approaches
Andrew C. H. Szeto and Brittany L. Lindsay
Chapter 11: Stigma Reduction in the General Workplace
Dorothy Luong and Bonnie Kirsh
Chapter 12: Reducing the Stigma of Mental Illness in First Responders
Beth Milliard
Chapter 13: Stigma Reduction for Healthcare Workers
Bianca Lauria-Horner
Chapter 14: Stigma Reduction for Substance Use and Opioids
Stephanie Knaak and Heather Stuart
Chapter 15: Media Programs
Rob Whitley
Chapter 16: Dissemination and Implementation Science in Stigma Programs
Keith S. Dobson and Heather Stuart
Chapter 17: Future Directions of Stigma Reduction: Lessons Learned
Heather Stuart and Keith S. Dobson