anti-stigma campaigns as a means of promoting employment of users of mental health services dr. egle...
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Anti-stigma campaigns as a means of promoting
employment of users of mental health services
Dr. Egle SumskieneJurga Mataityte-Dirziene
Vilnius UniversitySocial work department
Lithuania
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
Stigma and disrimination: evidence for actionLondon, 2009
Stigma fighting strategies (1)
Stigma arising from automatic processes can be diminished by making the unconscious conscious (e.g., Monteith, 1993; Monteith & Voils, 2001).
This can be implemented using three different strategies (Corrigan et. al, 2003): ProtestEducationInteraction
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
Protest: specific dissemination of information encouraging society to change it’s negative attitudes towards users of mental health services, criticizing existing stereotypes.
Education: based on belief, that if people have more information about mental illnesses they are less likely to stigmatize the ones suffering from them. So if information about mental illnesses is disseminated it is likely that stigmatization will decrease.
Interaction: intensive interactions with users of mental health services diminish stigma.
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
Stigma fighting strategies (2)
Disability statistics in Lithuania in 2007
According to Ministry of Social Security and Labour there were 170 317 disabled persons of working age or about 60% of whole disabled group (total Lithuanian population 3 375 800).
There is no official data, but NGO’s working in the mental health area calculate that employment rate of users of mental health services is about 20%.
Average disability allowance was 657 Litas/190 Euro/159 GBP per month.
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
“It is silly to be afraid of an unscrewed bolt” April – August 2006
“They want and can work”
February 2008
Implemented by Global Initiative in Psychiatry.
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
They want and can work
The main aim of these anti-stigma campaigns was to promote changes in participation of users of
mental health services in an open labour market.
Dissemination of tolerance ideas was one of the most important activities in micro and macro
levels, aiming at different target groups of society.
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
Actions of anti-stigma campaigns:
video and audio clips broadcasted in national television and radio stations;
outdoor advertising;public dissemination of different informational
material.
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
Research
Aim: to investigate effectiveness of anti-stigma campaigns promoting integration of users of mental health services into labour market.
Methods:1. Opinion poll implemented four times in two
years period before and after anti-stigma campaigns.
2. Survey of the opinion of business entities - employers.
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
Opinion poll “Public attitudes regarding integration of users of mental health
services into labour market”
Conducted by research company “Spinter” using Omnibus methodology four times: in January and July 2006 and February and April 2008.
Aim of the research: to find out public attitudes regarding integration of users of mental health services into labour market (their possibilities to have a payed job); to find out public attitudes and tolerance level regarding acceptance of users of mental health services into working places and positions that they could acquire.
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
Survey of the opinion of employers
Conducted by market research company Apklausos.Lt in April 2008.
Aims of this research: to find out if respondents have seen social advertising regarding employment of users of mental health services; if this social advertising campaign has done any influence on their opinion regarding rights of this group to have a job; what do employers think about the benefits of employing users of mental health services in their own enterprise.
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
Results (1)
Opinion poll showed positive changes in society’s attitudes influenced by anti-stigma campaigns. In January 2006 40% of respondents believed that users of mental health services can work. The post – campaign test showed increase in
positive attitudes: in April 2008 66% of respondents stated having positive opinion
towards employment of users of mental health services.
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
Results (2)
Survey of the opinion of Lithuanian business entities - employers - has revealed decrease in
number of respondents having negative attitudes towards employment of users.
However research did not show changes in the behaviour among employers. Although they do acknowledge benefits of employment for the disabled persons and the whole society, they
disclaim usefulness of mentally ill employees to their own enterprise.
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
Employers views about the importance of user
employment
-67
73
94
-80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40 60 80 100
Employment of usersof mental health
services is the mostimportant for
enterprise
Employment of usersof mental health
services is the mostimportant for society
Employment of usersof mental health
services is the mostimportant for users
themselves
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
Conclusions (1)
Complex reasons hindering participation of users of mental health services in the labour market require special measures targeting the whole society. Social campaigns aiming to educate society and confront existing stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination are one of the most popular fighting stigma strategies.
Anti-stigma campaigns carried out in Lithuania in 2006-2008 can be regarded as successful. Society perceived the message and its attitudes towards employment of users became more positive.
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
Positive changes in employers’ attitudes did not influence their behaviour: number of employers having negative attitudes towards employment of mentally ill persons has decreased; however survey didn’t show behavioural changes.
Employers’ fears and prejudices are considered as the main obstacle for employment. The second reason is rather objective: incapacity to work caused by illness. The other reasons include negative attitudes of the society and lack of employer’s motivation to employ users.
Conclusions (2)
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds
Thank you
Egle Sumskiene
Jurga Mataityte-Dirziene
Bursary for this presentation was made possible by the generous support of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds