Reducing mental illness stigma in health care students and professionals: a review of the literature

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce mental illness stigma among healthcare students and professionals. Method: A literature search was conducted using the Cochrane Library and PubMed. Results: Randomised controlled trial level evidence demonstrated that interventions involving direct contact, indirect filmed contact or an educational email effectively reduced stigma in the short term. Role play was the only intervention with randomised controlled trial level evidence demonstrating no effect. There was not enough evidence to suggest that any intervention can maintain stigma reduction over time. Conclusions: Stigma reduction in healthcare students and professionals needs to be sustained over time if it is to result in positive changes for people living with mental illness. Further research is needed to determine which interventions, if any, can achieve this. Only then will large-scale implementation of a stigma reduction intervention be feasible and beneficial to people living with mental illness.