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Shunned: discrimination against people with mental illness
- Author:
- THORNICROFT Graham
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 301p.
- Place of publication:
- Oxford
People with mental illness commonly describe the stigma and discrimination they face as being worse than their main condition. The book presents clearly for a wide readership information about the nature and severity of discrimination against people with mental illness and what can be done to reduce this.
Patient preference randomised controlled trials in mental health research
- Authors:
- HOWARD Louise, THORNICROFT Graham
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 188(4), April 2006, pp.303-304.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The relationship between psychiatric patients’ preferences for different treatments and the outcome of interventions is unclear, as the few relevant trials have tended to be underpowered. Strong patient preferences result in patients refusing to enter a trial. This leads to bias and limits generalisability, and the patient preference randomised controlled trial (RCT) design has been proposed as an alternative. Limitations and advantages of patient preference RCTs are discussed.
The Draft Mental Health Bill in England: without principles
- Authors:
- THORNICROFT Graham, SZMUKLER George
- Journal article citation:
- Psychiatric Bulletin, 29(7), July 2005, pp.244-247.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
Apart from the support for advocacy, it seems reasonable to conclude that this Bill is lacking in the remaining principles enunciated in the key policy documents that have provided a framework for our discussion. The authors doubt that legislation not founded on the national and international principles underlying modern mental health services can further the objectives of those services. Instead we have concerns that such ungrounded law will undermine the aspirations of both users and providers of mental health services to act in accordance with fundamental principles such as dignity, autonomy, empowerment, access and non-discrimination. In this sense it may not only be without principles, but there is a danger that in some circumstances (for example, when there are pressures for increased social control) its use could become unprincipled.
Stigma among people with dual diagnosis and implications for health services
- Authors:
- EVANS-LACKO Sara, THORNICROFT Graham
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Dual Diagnosis, 3(1), February 2010, pp.4-7.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Although we know that stigma and discrimination can be apparent in personal relationships, such as intimate partner or family relationships, and in organisational settings, such as work, health care and housing, current literature suggests that stigma and discrimination against people with mental illness and people with substance abuse problems is common and makes a significant impact on people’s lives. Yet firm evidence about whether stigma and discrimination are experienced differently, or at higher levels, for people with co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse is unclear. Given the high predominance of co-occurring disorders and the high levels of need among people with co-occurring disorders, understanding the varying levels of stigma and barriers to care encountered by this group is important for healthcare practitioners. The author concludes that despite the commonality of co-occurring disorders and high levels of need experienced by people with dual diagnosis, barriers to care may be even more prominent for this group compared to people with mental illness and substance abuse conditions alone. In summary, developing better understanding of the variations in experiences of stigma and discrimination and barriers to care will be important for meeting the needs of people with dual diagnosis.
Actions speak louder: tackling discrimination against people with mental illness
- Author:
- THORNICROFT Graham
- Publisher:
- Mental Health Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2006
- Pagination:
- 77p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The report criticises the government's mental health anti-stigma campaign, entitled Shift and launched in 2004, for offering policymakers few recommendations for action to combat discrimination. Instead of pumping millions of pounds trying to change society's negative attitudes towards people with mental health problems, more effort should be made to ensure that anti-discrimination law actually protects such people against prejudice. Specifically, the Disability Discrimination Act should be used to protect those with a mental health diagnosis in the same way it does those with a physical disability. The act has been framed primarily in relation to physical disability, and does little to help people with mental health problems. The report lays out actions that policy-makers and campaigners, including Shift, which is run by the National Institute for Mental Health, should make to end discrimination against people with mental health problems. Suggestions include employers allowing the mentally ill not to work if impaired by medication, and providing them with an "external job coach" for counselling and support. The report also suggests modifying employment contracts for those people likely to be unwell for prolonged periods.