Interventions to reduce stigma towards people with mental disorders in a caring environment: A systematic review

Abstract

Introduction Healthcare systems worldwide strive to respond to the global burden of mental disorders. However, healthcare providers’ stigma towards people with mental disorders discourages them from seeking help. Educational interventions, contact interventions, and a combination of these have been effective in reducing mental health stigma among the general public. However, there is a lack of systematic reviews conducted to determine the effectiveness of interventions to reduce healthcare providers’ stigma towards people with mental disorders. Aim The aim was to assess and synthesise evidence on effective interventions to reduce healthcare providers’ stigma towards people with mental disorders. Methods The reviewers conducted a review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement flow diagram. The five steps for conducting a review were applied and a textual narrative synthesis was undertaken. Results Of 34 studies eligible for quality appraisal, 27 studies met the inclusion criteria. The educational interventions involved mental health training, while contact interventions consisted of engaging with people with mental disorders or watching films related to the experience shared by people with such disorders. The results showed that each of these interventions or a combination of the two were effective in reducing healthcare providers’ stigma towards people with mental disorders over the short term. Conclusion Educational interventions, contact interventions or a combination of these effectively reduced mental health stigma among healthcare providers, although information on their effectiveness in the long term could not be found.