Abstract
In the field of stigma research, an area of interest is the coping strategies that mental health service users can use in response to discriminatory experiences. As a part of the evaluation of the Time to Change (TTC) anti-stigma programme, the Viewpoint telephone survey was run annually in order to assess service users' reported levels of discrimination and selected coping strategies. The study aim is to test the extent to which experience of TTC programme is a positive predictor of selected coping strategies. Telephone interview surveys carried out by peer interviewers were conducted annually. 'Educating others' and 'challenging' coping strategies were assessed alongside anticipated and experienced discrimination. During 2011-2014, 3903 mental health service users were interviewed. Participants more often adopted the 'educating others' strategy (2.31 ± 0.01) than the 'challenging' strategy (2.15 ± 0.02) (p < 0.001). On the other hand, those who participated in campaign activities endorsed 'challenging' more frequently than people who were not aware of TTC (2.78 ± 1.23 v. 2.09 ± 1.08, p < 0.001). According to the multi-variate linear regression model, we found that being actively involved in TTC activities (OR = 0.74, CI: 0.29-1.19; p < 0.05), having a diagnosis of a depressive disorder (OR = 0.20, CI: 0.04-0.36; p < 0.05) or personality disorder (OR = 0.23, CI: 0.04-0.43; p < 0.05) were good predictors of endorsing a 'challenging' strategy even after adjusted for confounding variables. A positive relationship between participating in the TTC programme and using the 'challenging' strategy was found. There is still a need to disentangle the complex association between these two coping strategies and the role of anti-stigma campaigns, promoting further local activities led by service users and carers' as well as all others stakeholders' associations.
Highlights
It has been well documented that people with mental health problems report high levels of discrimination (Sibitz et al 2011; Evans-Lacko et al 2012; Farrelly et al 2014; Griffiths et al 2014)
There is an increasing effort to try to end discrimination towards people affected by mental health problems (Heinz et al 2015; Mehta et al 2015; Thornicroft et al 2015; Wahlbeck, 2015; Weissman, 2015), with the promotion of antistigma programmes worldwide such as ‘Like Minds
Participants were recruited through National Health Service (NHS) mental health trusts
Summary
It has been well documented that people with mental health problems report high levels of discrimination (Sibitz et al 2011; Evans-Lacko et al 2012; Farrelly et al 2014; Griffiths et al 2014). The Time to Change (TTC) anti-stigma programme, England’s largest programme aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination against people with mental health problems, started in 2007 (http://www.timeto-change.org.uk/) (Henderson et al 2013). One of the main strategies of the TTC programme was to encourage service user leadership including events with the active involvement of mental health service users
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call