Anti-stigma advocacy for health professionals: a systematic review
Many health workers want to champion anti-stigma efforts. Published in the Journal of Mental Health, this paper examines the potential for leadership and advocacy by health professionals in reducing the impact of mental health discrimination. It is a review paper, examining 41 studies to note the theory base, content, delivery, and evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of interventions.
Key findings include:
Training works best when stigma is clearly linked to the responsibilities of health professionals
Programs should be based on a situational analysis and developed with input from people with lived experience
Interactive methods are more effective than passive approaches
Follow-up evaluation is important to measure real changes in behaviour, not just knowledge or attitudes
Effective approaches include responsibility as part of the professional role, correcting harmful practices, and collaborating with communities
The review shows that well-designed, interactive, and inclusive training can equip health professionals to better recognise, challenge, and reduce stigma in healthcare.