Akwatu Khenti, Robert Mann, Jaime C Sapag, Sireesha J Bobbili, Emily K Lentinello, Mark van der Maas, Branka Agic, Hayley Hamilton, Heather Stuart, Scott Patten, Marcos Sanches, Patrick Corrigan
INTRODUCTION: Primary care settings are often the first and only point of contact for persons with mental health and/or substance use problems. However, staff experience and training in this area are often limited. These factors as well as a multitude of other components such as structural and systemic stigma experienced by staff can lead to clients being stigmatised, leading to poorer outcomes. By developing a comprehensive intervention for primary care staff working at community health centres (CHCs) aimed at reducing stigma towards people with mental health and substance use problems (MHSUP), we sought to test an innovative and contact-based intervention consisting of staff training, raising awareness, a recovery-focused art programme and an analysis of internal policies and procedures...
November 20, 2017: BMJ Open