Fight Stigma
MDSC Mental Health Awards
Elephant in the Room Campaign
MDSC Sponsors Walk for Mental Health held Oct 24, 2010 in Montreal
Stigma and discrimination remain the number one concern for consumers and families because they live with its effects everyday. The MDSC has been advocating to change the negative attitudes, beliefs and behaviours.
Mood Disorders, Stigmatization and Family Caregiving. An interview with MDSC that aired December 31, 2012 at 11am EST with host Dr. Gordon Atherley on the “Family Caregivers Unite” Show on VoiceAmerica Variety Channel. Listen to the Recording.
Mental health: Start talking to stop stigma. Luke Hendry/The Intelligencer/QMI Agency. Larry Laws, Executive Director, Mental Health Support Network of South Eastern Ontario displays a herd of foam-rubber anti-stigma elephants at the network’s office to help start the discussion about mental illness. Read full Article (PDF).
The Hurting Profession: Lawyers in Crisis. Article in the Canadian Law Association Apr-May edition of the “National” magazine about lawyers becoming stressed sick and succumbing to depression, addictions and burnout.
Combating Stigma Leads to Breakthroughs. MDSC article in Media Planet (Independent Report to National Post) regarding combating stigma, Canada’s new Mental Health Strategy and the need for increased funding. August 2012 Issue (See page 5).
New Mental Health Anti-Stigma Training for Health Care Professionals. March 5, 2012. MDSC works with partners and sponsors on a major national initiative to help combat the stigma of mental illness within the medical profession. Read full News Release (PDF).
PTSD Report to Government “Out of Sight, Not Out of Mind”. March 3, 2012. MDSC issued a comprehensive new Report to the Government of Canada on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the how to reduce the social stigma that surrounds it. More details on PTSD page. Read Report (PDF), News Release (PDF), Background (PDF).
Coming Out: Edmontonians Living with Depression on CBC Radio Edmonton. August 19-26, 2011. Several notable people in the community talk briefly and openly about their challenges and successes in living with depression. It is part of a series of shows on depression including “The Costs of Depression” and “The Stigma”.
Interview Part 1: Stigma – The Unhealthiest Word in Mental Health. Patrick Connors, Newz4u.net, November 2010. Interview with Dave Gallson of MDSC regarding Stigma and what the general public can do. Read Interview (PDF).
Interview Part 2: No Need to be the Elephant in the Room. Patrick Connors, Newz4u.net, December 2010. Interview with Dave Gallson of MDSC regarding mental health in the workplace.
Workshop on Ending Stigma and Discrimination, and Achieving Parity in Mental Health: A Physician Perspective. The Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Psychiatric Association, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, and the Canadian Paediatric Society (Dec 2010). The report documents an invitational workshop to build shared understanding among physicians about the sources of stigma in the health care system, and recommend action to end stigma and discrimination and achieve parity in mental health. Read Report (PDF).
Stigma research and anti-stigma programs: From the point of view of people who live with stigma and discrimination every day. March 2009. This paper examines the contributions and limits of stigma research. It reviews and comments on the findings from the Mood Disorders Society of Canada’s Stigma Research Workshop in October 2006 and presents further MDSC thoughts and activities. It then documents national and international anti-stigma activities since that time and offers a series of recommendations for forward movement. It asks the question: What progress have we made? Read Report (PDF).
Stigma and discrimination – as expressed by mental health professionals. November 2007. Anecdotal reports of consumer and family experiences of stigma and discrimination are numerous. At the Mood Disorders Society of Canada’s (MDSC) October 2006 Stigma Research Workshop (supported by the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA), the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Health Canada) the focus was on identifying top research priorities. Read Report (PDF).
Federal Budget Reduces Stigma of Mental Illness. March 19, 2007. English (PDF), French (PDF).
Stigma and Discrimination Research Workshop Proceedings Report, MDSC. October 2006. As part of the mandate to support those with mental illness and offer leadership in strategies to address mental illness, the Mood Disorders Society of Canada convened a national workshop to explore the issues around stigma and discrimination. Read Report (PDF).
Stigma – The Hidden Killer, MDSC. May 2006. People who live with mental illness and their families often state that the stigma associated with their diagnosis was more difficult to bear than the actual illness. Stigma is all encompassing. It affects the ability to find housing and employment, enter higher education, obtain insurance, and get fair treatment in the criminal justice or child welfare systems. Stigma is not limited to the attitudes and actions of others. Self-stigma relates to internalized negative stereotypes that lead people with mental illness and their families to adopt attitudes of self-loathing and self-blame leading to a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. Read Report (PDF).
Stigma Resources, MDSC (from Stigma Workshop October 2-4, 2006)
- Books, Groups, Projects and Reports (PDF English)
- Articles (PDF English)
- Anti-Stigma Campaigns (PDF English)
- Conferences and Journals (PDF English)
Fighting Stigma and Discrimination is Fighting for Mental Health, Queen’s University. August 2005. This paper reviews the origins of stigma and discrimination and the main consequences for people with mental illness, and those around them. Stigma reduction efforts in Canada are reviewed in light of their absence from the reports of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. The paper closes with ten lessons for stigma reduction intended to both distill Canadian experiences and provide guidance for further policy debate. Reflecting on the international and Canadian experiences, of particular importance is recognizing that generic campaigns are largely ineffective, and that programs must be carefully focused upon selected groups. Read Full Report (PDF).
