Opening minds in Canada: background and rationale.
| Title | Opening minds in Canada: background and rationale. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2014 |
| Authors | Stuart H, Chen S-P, Christie R, Dobson K, Kirsh B, Knaak S, Koller M, Krupa T, Lauria-Horner B, Luong D, Modgill G, Patten SB, Pietrus M, Szeto A, Whitley R |
| Journal | Can J Psychiatry |
| Volume | 59 |
| Issue | 10 Suppl 1 |
| Pagination | S8-S12 |
| Date Published | 2014 Oct |
| ISSN | 0706-7437 |
| Keywords | Adolescent, Adult, Canada, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Health Education, Health Personnel, Health Policy, Humans, Mass Media, Mental Health Services, Mentally Ill Persons, Prejudice, Program Development, Rehabilitation, Vocational, Social Distance, Social Stigma, Workplace |
| Abstract | OBJECTIVE: To summarize the background and rationale of the approach taken by the Mental Health Commission of Canada's Opening Minds (OM) Anti-Stigma Initiative.METHOD: The approach taken by OM incorporates a grassroots, community development philosophy, has clearly defined target groups, uses contact-based education as the central organizing element across interventions, and has a strong evaluative component, so that best practices can be identified, replicated, and disseminated. Contact-based education occurs when people who have experienced a mental illness share their personal story of recovery and hope.RESULTS: OM has acted as a catalyst to develop partnerships between community groups who are undertaking anti-stigma work and an interdisciplinary team of academic researchers in 5 universities who are evaluating the results of these programs.CONCLUSIONS: Building partnerships with existing community programs and promoting systematic evaluation using standardized approaches and instruments have contributed to our understanding of best practices in the field of anti-stigma programming. |
| Alternate Journal | Can J Psychiatry |
| PubMed ID | 25565705 |
| PubMed Central ID | PMC4213755 |
