title: Experiences of discrimination among people using mental health services in England 2008-2011.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research suggests that levels of discrimination against people using mental health services are high; however, reports of these people's experiences are rare.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the Time to Change (TTC) programme target of 5% reduction in discrimination has been achieved.
  
  
  METHODS
  Separate samples of people using mental health services were interviewed annually from 2008 to 2011 using the Discrimination and Stigma Scale to record instances of discrimination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-one per cent of participants reported one or more experiences of discrimination in 2008 compared with 88% in 2011 (z = -1.9, P = 0.05). The median negative discrimination score was 40% in 2008 and 28% in 2011 (Kruskal-Wallis χ(2) = 83.4, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proportion of participants experiencing no discrimination increased significantly over the course of TTC but by less than the initial target. The overall median discrimination score fell by 11.5%. Data from 2010 and 2011 suggest that these gains may be hard to maintain during economic austerity.
authors.affiliation: Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Corker
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weeks
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pinfold
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Flach
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lewis-Holmes
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thornicroft
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D063508:Social Discrimination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057545:Social Stigma; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult