1. Stigma and schizophrenia: Attitudes of the general public, Schizophrenia Society members, and medical students Angus H. Thompson Department of Psychiatry and Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research, University of Alberta Invited address to the 1st International Congress on Reducing Stigma & Discrimination Because of Schizophrenia, World Psychiatric Association, Leipzig, September 2, 2001.

2. WPA CAMPAIGN AGAINST STIGMA Community Attitudes Project Colleagues: Julio Arboleda Florez, MD, PhDChair, Psychiatry Queens University Roger Bland, MBChair, Psychiatry University of Alberta Ruth Dickson, MDDir., Psychiatry P. Lougheed Hospital Heather Stuart, PhDAssoc. Prof. Queens University Richard Warner, MDMedical Director Boulder MH Ctr, USA

3. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Alberta (Canada) Mental Health Board Eli Lilly Canada Population Health Unit Calgary Regional Health Authority

4. Pilot Site for the WPA Campaign Against the Stigma of Schizophrenia

5. WPA Pilot Sites Comparison Site

6. PURPOSE Comparison with Pilot Site findings

7. PURPOSE Comparison with Pilot Site findings Compare stigma of addicts, criminals,...

8. PURPOSE Comparison with Pilot Site findings Compare stigma of addicts, criminals,... Examine attitudes of advocates

9. PURPOSE Comparison with Pilot Site findings Compare stigma of addicts, criminals,... Examine attitudes of advocates Examine medical student attitudes

10. METHODS Survey Samples

11. Demographics

12. METHODS Surveys included the following content areas:

19. Perceptions of the Most and Least Successful Types of Treatment

23. Discussion 1. It would appear that the mentally ill are not held in the same negative regard as they were 20 or 30 years ago.

24. Discussion 1. It would appear that the mentally ill are not held in the same negative regard as they were 20 or 30 years ago. 2. The results do not support the view that medical students are particularly prone to negative attitudes.

25. Discussion 1. It would appear that the mentally ill are not held in the same negative regard as they were 20 or 30 years ago. 2. The results do not support the view that medical students are particularly prone to negative attitudes. 3. The results do not support the utility of a broad approach for an anti-stigma campaign, but rather point to a more specific focus, such as perceived dangerousness.

26. Discussion 1. It would appear that the mentally ill are not held in the same negative regard as they were 20 or 30 years ago. 2. The results do not support the view that medical students are particularly prone to negative attitudes. 3. The results do not support the utility of a broad approach for an anti-stigma campaign, but rather point to a more specific focus, such as perceived dangerousness. 4. It may be better to focus on a clearly definable problem (e.g. housing, relationships, employment), rather than treating stigma as if it is the primary issue.

27. FIN