Challenge
Each year, 1 in 5 adults will experience a mental illness, and 1 in 10 will have a diagnosable substance use disorder. Many people experience both concurrently and most will not seek help for these very treatable diseases. One reason people avoid effective treatment is due to stigma. The stigma related to mental illness and substance use disorders involves complex processes that are driven by stereotypes and prejudices that lead to many different forms of discrimination. Public stigma perpetuates negative attitudes toward people with mental illness and substance disorders. Self-stigma causes individuals to internalize the negative views held by society. Structural stigma can lead to difficulty gaining access to treatment, housing, employment, and social networks. Health practitioner stigma can affect access to care and quality of care and likely plays a part in the reduced lifespan and other health inequities experienced by people with mental illness and substance use disorders. Research on stigma reduction interventions reveals that a one-time anti-stigma campaign does not yield effective, long-term results and that a more sustained, programmatic effort is required.
Solution
Atlas Research recognizes that responding to the interplay of the different types of stigma requires a thoughtful, nuanced approach. To that end, Atlas Research has developed several stigma reduction training curricula and assessment services to respond to the needs of different health care settings. Atlas will deploy these trainings and services to the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester (MHCGM), New Hampshire to assist them with their Stigma Assessment and Reduction Initiative Evaluation, targeted at improving access to care and quality of care for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders.
Result
Atas Research will lead the MHCGM Stigma Assessment and Reduction Initiative, which includes an agency assessment of the levels of several different types of stigma with an emphasis on health practitioner stigma and structural stigma. All agency staff will attend targeted stigma reduction trainings, developed by Atlas, that will help to guide sustained structural change. Outcome measures include ongoing health practitioner stigma surveys, monitoring of treatment-seeking behaviors from community members, and self-stigma in individuals who seek treatment.