S056: Effective Reduction of Stigma & Discrimination
Tracks
Track 8
| Thursday, August 27, 2015 |
| 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM |
| Murray Room |
Speaker
Claire O'Reilly
Lecturer, Faculty of Pharmacy
The University of Sydney
Stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with severe and persistent mental illness in assertive outreach settings
Abstract
This symposium will present an overview of the research to date on stigma and discrimination in mental illness. Mental health stigma is known to be a significant barrier to effective care resulting in higher levels of limited social networks, decreased self-esteem, unemployment, and delayed health care seeking, yet little is known how this manifests in discrimination from people living with severe and persistent mental illness.
Paper 1: Claire O’Reilly will present an overview of research into stigma and discrimination in mental illness, health professionals’ attitudes towards mental illness and educational strategies shown to be effective in reducing stigma and discrimination.
In addition an overview of a recent 2014 study will be presented which investigated the experiences of stigma and discrimination among people living with schizophrenia in an Assertive Community Treatment Team in NSW and explored levels of experienced, anticipated and positive discrimination. In this study 50 clients of the Assertive Outreach Team, Lower North Shore Mental Health, NSW. Forty participants (80%) experienced negative discrimination in at least one life domain. Negative discrimination was most common in being avoided or shunned (50%), by neighbours (48%) and family (46%). Experienced discrimination from mental health staff was reported from 42% compared to 18% whilst getting help for physical health problems. Anticipated discrimination was common with half of participants feeling the need to conceal their mental health diagnosis. Participants often stopped themselves in life activities due to anticipated discrimination even without previous experienced discrimination.
Paper 2: Alan Rosen will present an overview of results from the study focusing on stigma and discrimination experienced by mental health staff. Most of these experiences of unfair treatment by mental health staff could be attributed to involuntary treatment. Conversely, there were numerous reports of positive treatment from the mental health staff. This is consistent with the assertive outreach approach, unique in its holistic approach through extensive services such as medications, housing, and finances and its emphasis on a multidisciplinary team approach in the community setting.
Paper 3 – Panel discussion: Claire O’Reilly with facilitate a multidisciplinary panel discussion with co-authors and an Assertive Outreach Team consumer giving their perspectives of stigma and discrimination in people with severe and persistent mental illness. The discussion will cover areas of life where people most commonly report stigma and discrimination, how it impacts on their life and how can we address these challenges. The panel will include a participant of the research study who will share their own personal experiences of stigma and discrimination and how it has affected them. This will be an interactive discussion with ample time allocated to audience participation
Paper 1: Claire O’Reilly will present an overview of research into stigma and discrimination in mental illness, health professionals’ attitudes towards mental illness and educational strategies shown to be effective in reducing stigma and discrimination.
In addition an overview of a recent 2014 study will be presented which investigated the experiences of stigma and discrimination among people living with schizophrenia in an Assertive Community Treatment Team in NSW and explored levels of experienced, anticipated and positive discrimination. In this study 50 clients of the Assertive Outreach Team, Lower North Shore Mental Health, NSW. Forty participants (80%) experienced negative discrimination in at least one life domain. Negative discrimination was most common in being avoided or shunned (50%), by neighbours (48%) and family (46%). Experienced discrimination from mental health staff was reported from 42% compared to 18% whilst getting help for physical health problems. Anticipated discrimination was common with half of participants feeling the need to conceal their mental health diagnosis. Participants often stopped themselves in life activities due to anticipated discrimination even without previous experienced discrimination.
Paper 2: Alan Rosen will present an overview of results from the study focusing on stigma and discrimination experienced by mental health staff. Most of these experiences of unfair treatment by mental health staff could be attributed to involuntary treatment. Conversely, there were numerous reports of positive treatment from the mental health staff. This is consistent with the assertive outreach approach, unique in its holistic approach through extensive services such as medications, housing, and finances and its emphasis on a multidisciplinary team approach in the community setting.
Paper 3 – Panel discussion: Claire O’Reilly with facilitate a multidisciplinary panel discussion with co-authors and an Assertive Outreach Team consumer giving their perspectives of stigma and discrimination in people with severe and persistent mental illness. The discussion will cover areas of life where people most commonly report stigma and discrimination, how it impacts on their life and how can we address these challenges. The panel will include a participant of the research study who will share their own personal experiences of stigma and discrimination and how it has affected them. This will be an interactive discussion with ample time allocated to audience participation
Biography
Dr Claire O'Reilly is an experienced mental health pharmacist, academic and researcher. Dr O'Reilly currently practices as a community pharmacist, has previously provided local pharmaceutical services, education and research expertise to the AOT Lower North Shore and has previously been National Vice-President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (2011-14).
Prof Rosen has nearly 35 years’ experience as a consultant psychiatrist, mental health researcher and advocate. He has previously been clinical director of the Royal North Shore Hospital and Community Mental Health Services and has focused on the research of community based mobile teams & alternatives to hospital care and integration of hospital and community services.
Dr Shankar is a community psychiatrist with interests in community rehabilitation and the personal experiences of mental health clients. Dr Shankar has been Consultant Psychiatrist for The Lower North Shore AOT for over 4 years and has research experience in physical health and metabolic monitoring.
