LVR-Klinikum Düsseldorf Hospital of the Heinrich-Heine University ...

LVR-KLINIKUM DÜsseLDORF – hOsPITaL OF The heINRIch-heINe UNIVeRsITY DÜsseLDORF
and discrimination. Stigma and discrimination occur not
only as individual negative experiences of individuals with
schizophrenia in personal contact with others, but also for
example in legislation and in the media. In the framework
of an adequate treatment of persons with schizophrenia
it is necessary to fight against the stigmatisation of
schizophrenia in the general population and in selected
target groups. To this end, the global anti-stigma
programme “Fighting Stigma and Discrimination because
of Schizophrenia – Open the Doors”, initiated in 1996, is
being implemented and evaluated in the framework of the
Competence Network on Schizophrenia (Project 4.2.2.).
First, a survey of needs was performed (surveys of patients
and in the general population) to identify potential target
groups and topics for antistigma interventions. Following
this, anti-stigma interventions were carried out from 2001
on in Düsseldorf and Munich (Ludwig-Maximilian University)
and were evaluated in a pre-post design. The effects of this
programme on the general population were evaluated using
a representative longitudinal population survey in 2001 and
2004. The target groups of the intervention encompass:
s General population: public readings, art exhibitions,
movie and theatre nights, all in association with podium
discussions
s Journalists: press workshops
s Students, teachers, parents: readings in municipal
institutions for adult education and schools
s Expert audiences: lectures, workshops, poster
presentations, information stands, scientific
publications
Basic research: Within the context of the projects
“Communication-related causal factors of social distance”
and “Population survey by mail in the context of the opening
of a psychiatric day clinic and outpatient department”,
the principles of the stigma of mental illnesses were
investigated.
Anti-stigma intervention: Communication of anti-stigma
competence: in cooperation with the network headquarters
of the Competence Network on Schizophrenia, an
educational activity on the topic of anti-stigma competence
was developed, piloted and evaluated. The target group are
employees in the psychosocial and psychiatric fields.
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Cooperation in the anti-stigma programme of the Alliance
for Mental Health: Within the context of a project funded
from 2008 to 2011 by the Federal Health Ministry, the pilot
project of a national anti-stigma project has been created by
means of a systematic survey of the current situation and a
needs analysis.
Participation as cooperation centre in international projects
(EU-funded projects, coordination by King’s College
London):
INDIGO (International Study on the Discrimination and
Consequences of Stigmatisation)
ITHACA (International Study to Investigate the Human
Rights Situation and General Healthcare in Care and Welfare
Institutions)
ASPEN (Anti-stigma Programme: European Network)
Coordinating centre of an international survey project
(funded by the World Psychiatry Association and the
DGPPN): The research group is the coordinating centre of
the “Stigma of psychiatry and psychiatrists: an international
control group study” research project funded by the WPA and
the DGPPN since the end of 2009.