Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fighting Stigma in Canada: Opening Minds Anti-Stigma Initiative

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Stigma of Mental Illness - End of the Story?

Abstract

Mental illnesses continue to gain awareness as a global health problem. Within this international context, Canada has also paid closer attention to mental illnesses and their related stigma. The Mental Health Commission of Canada was formed in 2007 as a federal government initiative to be a catalyst for improving the mental health system. Since then, the Commission has examined the many ways in which people living with mental illnesses are viewed in society and devised a series of initiatives to enhance and improve Canada’s treatment of people who live with mental illnesses. One initiative is the Opening Minds initiative, whose mandate is to change Canadians’ attitudes and behaviors toward people living with mental illnesses to ensure they are treated fairly, as full citizens with equal opportunities to contribute to society (see Stuart et al. 2014a, b).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abbey S, Charbonneau M, Tranulis C, Moss P et al (2012) Stigma and discrimination. Can J Psychiatr 56(10):1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Allport G (1954) The nature of prejudice. Addison-Wesley, Reading

    Google Scholar 

  • Atzema CL, Schull MJ, Tu JV (2011) The effects of a charted history of depression on emergency department triage and outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Can Med Assoc J 183(6):663–669

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blascovich J, Mendes WB, Hunter SB, Lickel B, Kowai-Bell N (2001) Perceiver threat in social interactions with stigmatized others. J Pers Soc Psychol 80:253–267

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bordieri JE, Drehmer DE (1986) Hiring decisions for disabled workers: looking at the cause. J Appl Soc Psychol 16(3):197–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bricout JC, Bentley KJ (2000) Disability status and perceptions of employability by employers. Soc Work Res 24(2):87–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brohan E, Thornicroft G (2010) Stigma and discrimination of mental health problems: workplace implications. Occup Med 60:414–420

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen SP, Koller M, Krupa T, Stuart H (2014) Identifying the critical componens of youth anti-stigma education programs. Paper presented at ‘sharing traditions, sharing futures,’ the 16th international congress of the world federation of occupational therapists, Yokohama, Japan, 18–21 June 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark D, Dusome D, Hughes L (2007) Emergency department from the mental health client’s perspective. Int J Ment Health Nurs 16:126–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan P (2000) Mental health stigma as social attribution: implications for research methods and attitude change. Clin Psychol Sci Pract 7:48–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan P (2005) On the stigma of mental illness. American Psychological Association, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan P, Backs Edwards A, Green A, Lickey Thwart S, Penn D (2001) Prejudice, social distance, and familiarity with mental illness. Schizophr Bull 27(2):219–225

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan PW, Morris SB, Michaels PJ, Rafacz JD, Rüsch N (2012) Challenging the public stigma of mental illness: a meta-analysis of outcome studies. Psychiatr Serv 63:963–973

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Couture S, Penn D (2003) Interpersonal contact and the stigma of mental illness: a review of the literature. J Ment Health 12:291–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coverdale J, Nairn R, Claasen D (2002) Depictions of mental illness in print media: a prospective national sample. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 36:697–700

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dewa CS, Chau N, Dermer S (2010) Examining the comparative incidence and cost of physical and mental health-related disabilities in an employed population. J Occup Environ Med 52:758–762

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Drake RE, Whitley R (2014) Recovery and severe mental illness: description and analysis. Can J Psychiatr 59(5):236–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaebel W, Zäske H, Baumann AE, Klosterkötter J, Maier W, Decker P et al (2008) Evaluation of the German WPA program against stigma and discrimination because of schizophrenia – Open the Doors: results from representative telephone surveys before and after three years of anti-stigma interventions. Schizophr Res 98:184–193

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goffman I (1963) Stigma: notes on the management of spoiled identity. Penguin, Harmondsworth

    Google Scholar 

  • Kassam A, Patten S (2011) Quantitative analysis of the ‘Mental Illness and Addictions: Understanding the Impact of Stigma’ program. Mental Health Commission of Canada, Calgary, http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/node/5234. Accessed September 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirsh B (2000) Organizational culture, climate and person-environment fit: relationships with employment outcomes for mental health consumers. Work: J Prev Assess Rehabil 4:109–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Knaak S, Patten S (2013a) BC PSP adult mental health module: key findings. Mental Health Commission of Canada, Calgary, http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/node/33741. Accessed 14 Sept 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • Knaak S, Patten S (2013b) CBIS Program: final evaluation report. Mental Health Commission of Canada, Calgary, http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/node/22351. Accessed 15 Sept 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • Knaak S, Patten S (2014) Building and delivering successful anti-stigma programs for healthcare providers: results of a qualitative study. Mental Health Commission of Canada, Calgary, http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/initiatives-and-projects/opening-minds) Accessed 20 Sept 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • Knaak S, Hawke L, Patten S (2013) That’s just crazy talk evaluation report. Mental Health Commission of Canada, Calgary, http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/node/19771. Accessed 12 Sept 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • Knaak S, Karpa J, Robinson R, Bradley L (2016) They are us - we are them’: Transformative learning though nursing education leadership. Healthcare Management Forum (May): forthcoming

    Google Scholar 

  • Knaak S, Modgill G, Patten S (2014) Key ingredients of anti-stigma programs for healthcare providers: a data synthesis of evaluative studies. Can J Psychiatr 59(10 Suppl):19S–26S

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kopp B, Knaak S, Patten S (2013) Evaluation of IWK’s ‘Understanding the Impact of Stigma’ program. Mental Health Commission of Canada, Calgary, http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/initiatives-and-projects/opening-minds. Accessed 14 Sept 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • Krupa T, Kirsh B, Cockburn L, Gewurtz R (2009) Understanding the stigma of mental illness in employment. Work 33:413–425

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Langlieb AM, Kahn JP (2005) How much does quality mental health care profit employers? J Occup Environ Med Am Coll Occup Environ Med 47(11):1099–1109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lauber C, Nordt C, Braunschweig C, Rössler W (2006) Do mental health professionals stigmatize their patients? Acta Psychiatr Scand 113(Suppl 429):51–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lerner D, Henke RD (2008) What does research tell us about depression, job performance, and work productivity? J Occup Environ Med 50:401–410

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lim K-L, Jacobs P, Ohinmaa A, Schopflocher D, Dewa CS (2008) A new population-based measure of the economic burden of mental illness in Canada. Chronic Dis Can 28:92–98

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Link BG, Phelan JC (2001) Conceptualizing stigma. Annu Rev Sociol 27(3):363–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luong D, Szeto A, Burwash S, Patten S (2012a) U of A OT client-educator program. Mental Health Commission of Canada, Calgary, http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/node/5186. Accessed 16 Sept 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • Luong D, Szeto A, Weinerman R, Patten S (2012b) PSP adult mental health module. Mental Health Commission of Canada, Calgary, http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/node/5177. Accessed 21 Sept 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • MacCarthy D, Weinerman R, Kallstrom L, Kadlec H, Hollander M, Patten S (2013) Mental health practice and attitudes of family physicians can be changed! Permenente J 17(3):14–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mellor C (2014) School-based interventions targeting stigma of mental illness: systematic review. Psychiatr Bull 38:164–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mental Health Commission of Canada (2012) Changing directions, changing lives: the mental health strategy for Canada. Mental Health Commission of Canada, Calgary, http://strategy.mentalhealthcommission.ca/pdf/strategy-text-en.pdf. Accessed 29 Sept 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • Modgill G, Patten S (2012) British Columbia’s Interior Health Authority’s usage of the Ontario Central LHIN Anti-stigma Training Program: an independent evaluation by Opening Minds. Mental Health Commission of Canada, Calgary, http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/node/5180. Accessed 14 Sept 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • Mowbray C, Holter M, Teague G, Bybee D (2003) Fidelity criteria: development, measurement, and validation. Am J Eval 24(3):315–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pettigrew T, Tropp L (2006) A meta-analytic test of intergroup contact theory. J Pers Soc Psychol 90:751–783

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pettigrew T, Tropp L (2008) How does intergroup contact reduce prejudice? Meta-analytic tests of three mediators. Eur J Soc Psychol 38:922–934

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pietrus M (2013) Opening minds interim report. Mental Health Commission of Canada, Calgary, http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/initiatives-and-projects/opening-minds/opening-minds-interim-report. Accessed 29 Sept 2014

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Read J, Baker S (1996) Not just sticks & stones: a survey of the stigma, taboos and discrimination experienced by people with mental health problems. Mind Publications, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Richards D, Bradshaw T, Mairs H (2003) Helping people with mental illness: a mental health training programme for community health workers. World Health Organization, Geneva, https://www.who.int/mental_health/policy/en/Module%20A2.pdf. Accessed 28 Oct 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • Ross C, Goldner E (2009) Stigma, negative attitudes and discrimination towards mental illness within the nursing profession: a review of the literature. J Psychiatr Health Nurs 16:558–567

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sartorius N (2010) Short-lived campaigns are not enough. Nature 468:163–165

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sartorius N, Gaebel W, Cleveland W-H et al (2010) WPA guidance on how to combat stigmatization of psychiatry and psychiatrists. World Psychiatry 9:131–144

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Schomerus G, Angermeyer MC (2008) Stigma and its impact on help-seeking for mental disorders: what do we know? Epidemiol Psychiatr Soc 17:31–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulze B (2007) Stigma and mental health professionals: a review of the evidence on an intricate relationship. Int Rev Psychiatr 19(2):137–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulze B, Angermeyer M (2003) Subjective experiences of stigma. A focus group study of schizophrenic patients, their relatives, and mental health professionals. Soc Sci Med 56:299–312

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sroujian C (2003) Mental health is the number one cause of disability in Canada. Insurance Journal (August):8

    Google Scholar 

  • Stout PA, Villegas J, Jennings NA (2004) Images of mental illness in the media: identifying gaps in the research. Schizophr Bull 30:543–561

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stuart H (2003) Violence and mental illness: an overview. World Psychiatry 2:121–124

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Stuart H (2004) Stigma and work. Healthc Pap 5:100–111

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stuart H (2006a) Media portrayals of mental illness and its treatments – what effect does it have on people with mental illness. CNS Drugs 20:99–106

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stuart H (2006b) Mental illness and employment discrimination. Curr Opin Psychiatr 19:522–526

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuart H, Arboleda-Flórez J, Santorius N (2012) Paradigms lost: fighting stigma and the lessons learned. Oxford University Press, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Stuart H, Chen SP, Christie R, Dobson K, Kirsh B, Knaak S, Koller M, Krupa T, Lauria-Horner B, Luong D et al (2014a) Opening minds in Canada: background and rationale. Can J Psychiatr 59(10 Suppl 1):S8–S12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuart H, Chen SP, Christie R, Dobson K, Kirsh B, Knaak S, Koller M, Krupa T, Lauria-Horner B, Luong D et al (2014b) Opening minds in Canada: targeting change. Can J Psychiatr 59(10 Suppl 1):S13–S18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuart H, Patten S, Koller M, Modgill G, Liinamaa T (2014c) Stigma in Canada: results from a rapid response survey. Can J Psychiatr 59(10 Suppl 1):S27–S33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szeto ACH, Dobson KS (2010) Reducing the stigma of mental disorders at work: a review of current workplace anti-stigma intervention programs. Appl Prev Psychol 14:41–56

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szeto ACH, Hamer A (2013) Central LHIN Phase 2 report. Mental Health Commission of Canada, Calgary, http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/document/18621/central-lhin-phase-2-report. Accessed 24 Sept 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • Thornicroft G (2008) Stigma and discrimination limit access to mental health care. Epidemiol Psichiat Soc 17(1):14–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thornicroft G, Rose D, Kassam A (2007) Discrimination in health care against people with mental illness. Int Rev Psychiatr 19(2):113–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thornicroft G, Rose D, Mehta N (2010) Discrimination against people with mental illness: what can psychiatrists do? Adv Psychiatr Treat 16:53–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorpe K, Chénier L (2011) Building mentally healthy workplaces: perspectives of Canadian workers and front-line managers. Conference Board of Canada, Ottawa, http://www.conferenceboard.ca/e-library/abstract.aspx?did=4287. Accessed 29 Oct 2014

    Google Scholar 

  • Waddell C, McEwan K, Shepherd C, Offord D, Hua J (2005) A public health strategy to improve the mental health of Canadian children. Can J Psychiatr 50(4):226–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wahl OF (1992) Mass media images of mental illness: a review of the literature. J Commun Psychiatr 20:343–352

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahl OF (1995) Media madness: public images of mental illness. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitley R, Berry S (2013a) Analyzing media representations of mental illness: lessons learnt from a national project. J Ment Health 22(3):246–253

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whitley R, Berry S (2013b) Trends in newspaper coverage of mental illness in Canada: 2005–2010. Can J Psychiatr 58:107–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitley R, Adeponle A, Miller AR (in press) Comparing gendered and generic representations of mental illness in Canadian newspapers: an exploration of the chivalry hypothesis. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol

    Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (1996) The health of youth: a cross-national survey. World Health Organization, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Opening Minds is the anti-stigma initiative of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, which is funded by Health Canada. For further information on Opening Minds, our reports and partners, go to our website: http://www.mentalhealthcommission.ca/English/initiatives-and-projects/opening-minds

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Health Services and Policy Research, Mental Health Commission of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Shu-Ping Chen

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Keith Dobson & Andrew Szeto

  3. Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Bonnie Kirsh

  4. Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, Mental Health Commission of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Stephanie Knaak & Michelle Koller

  5. Centre for Health Services and Policy Research, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Michelle Koller & Heather Stuart

  6. School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada

    Terry Krupa

  7. Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Bianca Lauria-Horner

  8. Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Toronto, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Dorothy Luong

  9. Mental Health Commission of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Geeta Modgill & Michael Pietrus

  10. Departments of Community Health Sciences and Psychiatry, Mental Health Commission of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Scott Patten

  11. Department of Public Health Sciences, Mental Health Commission of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Heather Stuart

  12. Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada

    Rob Whitley

Authors
  1. Shu-Ping Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Keith Dobson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bonnie Kirsh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Stephanie Knaak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Michelle Koller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Terry Krupa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Bianca Lauria-Horner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Dorothy Luong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Geeta Modgill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Scott Patten
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Michael Pietrus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Heather Stuart
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  13. Rob Whitley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  14. Andrew Szeto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael Pietrus .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Heinrich-Heine-University LVR-Klinikum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Wolfgang Gaebel

  2. Psychiatric University Hospital University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Wulf Rössler

  3. Association for the Improvement of Mental Health Programmes, Geneva, Switzerland

    Norman Sartorius

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Chen, SP. et al. (2017). Fighting Stigma in Canada: Opening Minds Anti-Stigma Initiative. In: Gaebel, W., Rössler, W., Sartorius, N. (eds) The Stigma of Mental Illness - End of the Story?. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27839-1_14

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27839-1_14

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-27837-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-27839-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation