Challenges and opportunities in stigma for psychiatrists: an analysis of effective coping mechanisms to reduce stigma associated with mental illnesses

Stigma leads to discrimination of the patient, family, health care providers and services. A workshop-type qualitative analysis was conducted with a panel of 40 psychiatrists to attempt to apply evidence based anti-stigma strategies to five given hypothetical case vignettes. Various combinations of protest, education and challenge strategies were selected as effective by the panel. The analysis also revealed a number of stigmatising beliefs related to psychiatry as a profession and behaviour of patients. Psychiatrists themselves need to change such beliefs as part of reducing stigma related to mental illnesses.