Adverse Unintended Effects of Antistigma Campaigns and Intervention Messages: First, Do No Harm

We all want our efforts to reduce stigma to produce only “good” effects. But this isn’t always the case when the message of campaigns is not interpreted as intended. Campaigns can increase stigma and other unintended harmful outcomes.

A new series of articles tackles this subject across fields such as substance use, anorexia nervosa, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease. The aim of this series is not to warn people off campaigns and action to reduce stigma.

The authors want to raise awareness and knowledge of the importance of planning for unintended effects to reduce the chance that they occur. You can find the introduction to the series and list of articles within it here.