Reducing the stigma of schizophrenia: understanding the process and options for interventions.

In 1996, the World Psychiatric Association initiated a programme to reduce stigma and discrimination because of schizophrenia (Sartorius, 1998). Starting in Alberta (Canada), it was later joined by Spain and Austria. In the meantime, 11 countries from around the globe (including Italy) are involved in the international effort. Based on the respective local particularities of the countries participating, a multitude of interventions have been carried out or initiated in the context of the WPA-programme. The spectrum of activities extends from media campaigns through legal regulations to the empowerment of patients and their relatives. In the following, it will be attempted to develop a-systematology of the various approaches aiming at reducing the stigma of schizophrenia. This is to facilitate orientation among the variety of strategies chosen. As a theoretical framework, the argument will draw on the conception of the stigma process developed by Link et al. (1997) (see also Link & Phelan, in press). The process begins with a situation where a difference in another person is identified and subsequently labelled. It continues by linking the person thus labelled to negative stereotypes that prevail in society about the group of persons in question. Consequently, the person thus labelled is separated from others to become part of a distinct category from which people dissociate themselves. The stigma process culminates in that the person is exposed to various forms of discrimination, resulting in the respective negative social consequences.