New report says doctors can stigmatise people with mental illness

Citation

(2001), "New report says doctors can stigmatise people with mental illness", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 14 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2001.06214dab.003

New report says doctors can stigmatise people with mental illness

New report says doctors can stigmatise people with mental illnessKeywords: Mental health, Medical professions, General practice

A new report from the five-year campaign Changing Minds. Every Family in the Land organised by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, says that it is important for doctors to put their own house in order when it comes to reducing stigmatisation against people with mental illnesses. The campaign is designed to combat the stigmatisation of people with anxiety disorders, severe depression, dementia, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and drug and alcohol dependency. It aims to raise public and professional awareness, to change attitudes, and to improve the treatment of people with mental illness.

The new report was prepared by a joint working group which included representatives from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the Royal College of Physicians and the British Medical Association (BMA), with close collaboration from the Royal College of General Practitioners. It acknowledges that doctors, like members of the public, can stigmatise people with mental illnesses. Its main recommendations include the following:

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  Government, NHS Trusts, the General Medical Council (GMC), Royal Colleges, the BMA and other healthcare organisations should treat mental illness as they already treat race, gender and age in all policy and procedures.

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  The GMC should publicly declare that promulgating or acting on stigmatising attitudes will be regarded as a form of professional misconduct.

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  Royal Colleges and the BMA should formally adopt anti-discriminatory and awareness campaigns.

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  Doctors in all specialities are adequately trained to eliminate stigmatisation of people with mental illnesses. Training should take place at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and should be included in continuing medical education.

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  The GMC guidelines require that all independent medical practitioners be able to assess the mental state of their patients and that this is part of good medical practice. Respect must be preserved for the uniqueness, dignity and rights of the individual.

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  Specific guidelines should be developed to ensure that the selection of medical students and doctors is not the subject of discrimination on mental health grounds. As with physical illnesses and disabilities, selection should be based on realistic assessment of the applicant's health and of any likely effect on his or her patients.

Professor Arthur Crisp, Director of the Changing Minds Campaign, said:

This report forms an important part of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' Changing Minds Campaign in that it recognises that doctors are not perfect. We need to put our own house in order if we are to achieve the wider aims of the campaign.

Further information from Deborah Hart or Vanessa Hudson at the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Tel: +44 (0) 20 7235 2351; ext. 127 or 154; e-mail: dhart@rcpsych.ac.uk