Liz Lamb Leader, Innovation and Engagement, BCPSQ CouncilAllison McLeod Child, Youth and Family Mental Health ConsultantMiki Talebi Manager, Public Policy, Canadian Mental Health Association

TACKLING MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA

SUPPORTS

“1 in 4 People have a Mental Health Problem..

..many more people have a problem with that”

Stephen Fry

O Canada Activity

What If People Treated Physical Illness Like Mental Illness?

Helpful Advice

www.robot-hugs.com

Dichotomy – physical and mental illness

Mental health portrayed as a weakness

Early intervention in mental health vsphysical health

“A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person”

• Negative stereotype• Stereotypes are efficient

Stigma

BCPSQ Forum 2016

Stigma Cont’d

• External stigma (public stigma, other stigma)

– Negative perceptions held by the public

• Internal stigma (self-stigma)

– Perceptions held by the individual

– Reduced self-esteem, self-worth

– Consequences for help-seeking

Corrigan, & Watson, 2002

BCPSQ Forum 2016

BCPSQ Forum 2016

Unsupport

Ineffective supportFour types of unsupport• Distancing – Behavioural or emotional

disengagement• Bumbling – Awkward, uncomfortable

responses• Minimizing – Forcing optimism, downplaying • Blaming – Criticism, finding fault

Ingram, Betz, Mindes, Schmitt, & Smith, 2001

Have we all engaged in this behaviour?

Activity

Read the story at your table

Discuss

• Stigma:

- Self, Public

• Unsupports:

- Distancing, Bumbling, Minimizing, Blaming

Empathy Mapping

SAYDO

What could be done differently?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Evwgu369Jw

“One awesome thing about Eeyore is that even though he is basically clinically depressed, he still gets invited to participate in adventures and shenanigans with all of his friends. And they never expect him to pretend to feel happy, they just love him anyway, and they never leave him behind or ask him to change.”

THANKYOU