Abstract
Due to the stigma associated with mental disorders, many people with mental illness face the difficult choice whether to disclose their illness to others. (Non-)Disclosure is a key reaction in coping with stigma. Disclosure as well as non-disclosure have risks and benefits, depending on the environment and the individual. "Honest, Open, Proud" (HOP; German: "In Würde zu sich stehen"/IWS) is a peer-led group program to support people with mental illness in their disclosure decisions. It is not HOP's aim to make participants disclose, but to support a well-informed and empowered decision. Currently three RCTs, with several others underway, show HOP's positive effects in terms of reductions in stigma stress, disclosure distress, self-stigma, or depressive symptoms. Adolescent participants reported better quality of life, recovery, and attitudes to help-seeking. Adaptations for different diagnoses and age groups have been developed. HOP appears to be a feasible and effective program to support people with mental illness in their disclosure decisions and in their coping with stigma. Future developments and public health implications are discussed.
Highlights
Background: Due to the stigma associated with mental disorders, many people with mental illness face the difficult choice whether to disclose their illness to others. (Non-)Disclosure is a key reaction in coping with stigma
HOP appears to be a feasible and effective program to support people with mental illness in their disclosure decisions and in their coping with stigma
In Würde zu sich stehen‘ (IWS) hat, indem es strategische und gelingende Offenlegung fördert, das Potential, zum Abbau öffentlicher Stigmatisierung beizutragen, weil so mehr positiver Kontakt zwischen Mitgliedern der allgemeinen Öffentlichkeit und Menschen mit Vorerfahrung psychischer Erkrankung entsteht – und Kontakt die wirksamste Strategie gegen öffentliche Stigmatisierung darstellt [35]
Summary
Due to the stigma associated with mental disorders, many people with mental illness face the difficult choice whether to disclose their illness to others. (Non-)Disclosure is a key reaction in coping with stigma. Schließlich haben Studien zu Recovery [22,23] gezeigt, daß es die Genesung fördert, eine positive Identität als Person mit psychischer Erkrankung (oder wie auch immer die eigene Erfahrung benannt wird) zu entwickeln, die nicht auf die Erkrankung reduziert ist: ‚Ich bin nicht die Erkrankung, ich habe die Erkrankung‘.
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