Strategies to Reduce Mental Health Stigma
Several strategies have been identified to reduce mental health stigma:
Education and Awareness Campaigns
Public education initiatives can dispel myths and increase understanding of mental health conditions. These campaigns often involve sharing stories of PWLE to humanise mental health issues and demonstrate recovery and resilience. Our Shine Green Ribbon campaign is key to delivering on this strategy in Ireland.
Media Guidelines and Training
Providing training for journalists and establishing media guidelines promotes responsible reporting on mental health. The Lancet Commission's Media Manifesto is a step towards engaging media professionals in the effort to reduce stigma. The work that we do in Shine’s Media Programme is key to this approach in Ireland.
Policy and Legislative Changes
Governments and organisations can enact policies that protect the rights of individuals with mental health conditions and promote their inclusion in society. This includes anti-discrimination laws and workplace mental health initiatives. Shine’s facilitation and support of the Reference Group as part of the implementation of our national Mental Health Policy Sharing the Vision is an important piece of this work.
Community-Based Programmes
Grassroots initiatives that involve community members in dialogue and support activities can create local networks of understanding and acceptance. Programmes that involve PWLE in leadership roles have been particularly effective. Our Green Ribbon Campaign and Ambassador programme is key to this approach. Recently we have harnessed our network of frontline staff to add value to the Green Ribbon campaign. We work in partnership with all of the key mental health service providers and charities to increase capacity in September and leverage as much support as possible to grow the campaign and widen reach to develop the campaign into a social movement.
Healthcare Providers Training
Training healthcare providers to recognise and combat their own biases can improve the quality of care for people with mental health conditions. This also helps in creating a supportive environment within healthcare settings. As part of our stigma reduction work, we deliver training and support to healthcare providers, and we plan to develop this approach further.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic had a complex impact on mental health stigma in Ireland. Findings from a 2022 survey by St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services in Ireland indicate that the pandemic initially led to greater openness and reduced stigma around mental health issues. The survey showed that 60% of respondents felt more comfortable talking about their mental health post-pandemic, and 80% believed that society became more open to discussing mental health during this period . However, some of these positive changes appear to be regressing, underscoring the need for sustained efforts to challenge stigma and support mental health awareness. We produced a guide to support workplaces in a post-COVID environment called A New Reality, Living with COVID.
Recent Survey Data
A survey conducted by Shine’s stigma reduction programme provides additional insights into the evolving landscape of mental health stigma in Ireland. This survey revealed persistent stigma in various settings, particularly in the workplace, where individuals reported reluctance to disclose mental health issues due to fear of negative consequences. However, it also highlighted that anti-stigma campaigns have made some progress, with increased public awareness and support for mental health initiatives. As part of this work, we have developed a document to support this, (insert link here)