Grant: Operating Grant

A range of studies indicate that individuals with mental illness and/or substance use problems (MISUP) experience discrimination in the Canadian health care system. Many individuals who seek help for MISUP feel disrespected and discriminated against by frontline health care workers, either intentionally or unintentionally. A wealth of information also exists about a negative health impact of stigma and discrimination on those persons with MISUP. Research is lacking however, about effective interventions that can reduce stigmatizing attitudes and behaviours among primary health care (PHC) providers. This gap is striking given that health professionals play a unique role which allows them to be stigmatizers, stigma recipients and most importantly, powerful agents of de-stigmatization. A unique pilot project recently addressed this gap through an exploration of stigma-related attitudes in the Canadian primary health care (PHC) system. Action research was conducted in three Ontario community health centres (CHC) that resulted in the creation of a comprehensive anti-stigma intervention. This intervention sought to reduce stigmatizing attitudes and behaviours in CHCs through (1) Teams of Local Leaders, (2) Innovative Professional Training, (3) Heightened Awareness, (4) Recovery-Based Arts and (5) Analysis of Internal Policies & Procedures with a focus on MISUPs. The proposed study, involving six CHCs across the Greater Toronto Area, will determine whether the anti-stigma intervention effectively reduces stigma towards people with MISUP. The study may serve as a strong foundation for future research and implementation of meaningful anti-stigma interventions that can be scaled up provincially, nationally and globally.