EPA guidance on how to improve the image of psychiatry and of the psychiatrist.
Stigma against mental illness and the mentally ill is well known. However, stigma against psychiatrists and mental health professionals is known but not discussed widely. Public attitudes and also those of other professionals affect recruitment into psychiatry and mental health services. The reasons for this discriminatory attitude are many and often not dissimilar to those held against mentally ill individuals. In this Guidance paper we present some of the factors affecting the image of psychiatry and psychiatrists which is perceived by the public at large. We look at the portrayal of psychiatry, psychiatrists in the media and literature which may affect attitudes. We also explore potential causes and explanations and propose some strategies in dealing with negative attitudes. Reduction in negative attitudes will improve recruitment and retention in psychiatry. We recommend that national psychiatric societies and other stakeholders, including patients, their families and carers, have a major and significant role to play in dealing with stigma, discrimination and prejudice against psychiatry and psychiatrists.
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK. Electronic address: dinesh.bhugra@kcl.ac.uk.
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Bhugra
Association for the Improvement of Mental Health Programmes (AMH), Geneva, Switzerland.
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Sartorius
Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
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Fiorillo
Department of Health Service and Population Research, King's College, London, UK.
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Evans-Lacko
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
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Ventriglio
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Fortuinstraat, Mechelen, Belgium.
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Hermans
Swiss Society of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Vallon
University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
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Dales
Centar za Mentalino Zdravlje, Prijedor, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Racetovic
Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University, Poland.
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Samochowiec
University of Balearic Islands, Spain.
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Roca Bennemar
Department of Psychiatry II,Ulm University,Bezirkskrankenhaus, Günzburg, Germany.
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Becker
Institute of Behaviour Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
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Kurimay
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Gaebel
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D011287:Prejudice; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000592:standards; D011639:Public Opinion; D057545:Social Stigma; D013240:Stereotyping
Patients; Psychiatrists; Psychiatry; Retention; Stigma; Stigmatisation