In terms of interventions, there are population based and employer based initiatives...
One recent review of stigma reduction programs both international and regional, commented that ' awareness or recognition does not necessarily equate to comprehension or understanding... '
Just because some interventions create awareness this doesn't mean that stigma is reduced because what underpins stigma is ignorance, differentiation also fear of the unknown ... this can't just be changed through mere 'awareness '.
There has to be understanding.
It's thought that ...
'Despite the possible benefits of widespread public campaigns, the low rates of awareness suggest that more targeted interventions (such as workplace interventions) might reach more people, albeit within a smaller subset of the population. '
The review demonstrated that programs that are targeted at reduction in stigma and discrimination towards people with mental disorders in the workplace are relatively few in number, and their evaluation status is mixed.
Many of the programs that exist have certain assumptions or values embedded within them. For example, many of the programs discuss mental disorders as forms of “illness” (biological/chemical imbalance model)
It was believed this model would decrease stigma, and increase help-seeking and utilization of mental health services by people with mental disorders.
Some research has indeed found positive consequences of the biological/chemical imbalance model of mental disorders, such as
- increases for supporting treatment (Pescosolido et al., 2010) or
- reducing blame for causing the mental disorder (Deacon & Baird, 2009).
However, the biological model of mental disorders is also related to perceptions of poor recovery and the inefficacy of non-biological treatments, increased stigma and social distance and increased perceptions of dangerousness.
So there are pros and cons ...
All programs and initiatives should therefore be evaluated to determine whether or not the expected benefits are observed in practice, and/or whether or not the program works particularly well for certain individuals within the workplace.
As with all research there are more questions asked and then there are answers ...
But what does seem to be clear is that the evaluation of the initiative will be at the heart of what is ultimately done for those experiencing stigma in the workplace.
That is, there is no point in setting up inclusive initiatives or delivering workplace training or setting up mentors if in fact there is no reduction to stigma!
The challenge is to find what works in each particular workplace for each particular individual and context ... Some workplaces are more conducive to understanding mental health via programs and others have so much stigma embedded that great lengths would have to be taken to change the culture.
@Former-Member And @Sehnsucht
Have you ever had the experience of being part of a workplace mental health education initiative?
Did it actually work? Did anybody care?
