Slide1: Stigma and schizophrenia: Attitudes of the general public, Schizophrenia Society members, and medical students Angus H. Thompson Department of Psychiatry and Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research, University of Alberta Invited address to the 1st International Congress on Reducing Stigma & Discrimination Because of Schizophrenia, World Psychiatric Association, Leipzig, September 2, 2001.


Slide2: WPA CAMPAIGN AGAINST STIGMA Community Attitudes Project Colleagues: Julio Arboleda Florez, MD, PhD Chair, Psychiatry Queens University Roger Bland, MB Chair, Psychiatry University of Alberta Ruth Dickson , MD Dir., Psychiatry P. Lougheed Hospital Heather Stuart, PhD Assoc. Prof. Queens University Richard Warner, MD Medical Director Boulder MH Ctr, USA


Slide3: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Alberta (Canada) Mental Health Board Eli Lilly Canada Population Health Unit Calgary Regional Health Authority


Slide4: Pilot Site for the WPA Campaign Against the Stigma of Schizophrenia


Slide5: WPA Pilot Sites Comparison Site


Slide6: PURPOSE Comparison with Pilot Site findings


Slide7: PURPOSE Comparison with Pilot Site findings Compare stigma of addicts, criminals, ...


Slide8: PURPOSE Comparison with Pilot Site findings Compare stigma of addicts, criminals, ... Examine attitudes of advocates


Slide9: PURPOSE Comparison with Pilot Site findings Compare stigma of addicts, criminals, ... Examine attitudes of advocates Examine medical student attitudes


Slide10: METHODS Survey Samples


Slide11: Demographics


Slide12: METHODS Surveys included the following content areas:


Slide19: Perceptions of the Most and Least Successful Types of Treatment


Slide20: Perceptions of the Most and Least Successful Types of Treatment


Slide23: Discussion 1. It would appear that the mentally ill are not held in the same negative regard as they were 20 or 30 years ago.


Slide24: Discussion 1. It would appear that the mentally ill are not held in the same negative regard as they were 20 or 30 years ago. 2. The results do not support the view that medical students are particularly prone to negative attitudes.


Slide25: Discussion 1. It would appear that the mentally ill are not held in the same negative regard as they were 20 or 30 years ago. 2. The results do not support the view that medical students are particularly prone to negative attitudes. 3. The results do not support the utility of a broad approach for an anti-stigma campaign, but rather point to a more specific focus, such as perceived dangerousness.


Slide26: Discussion 1. It would appear that the mentally ill are not held in the same negative regard as they were 20 or 30 years ago. 2. The results do not support the view that medical students are particularly prone to negative attitudes. 3. The results do not support the utility of a broad approach for an anti-stigma campaign, but rather point to a more specific focus, such as perceived dangerousness. 4. It may be better to focus on a clearly definable problem (e.g. housing, relationships, employment), rather than treating stigma as if it is the primary issue.


Slide27: FIN