Norman Sartorius

Julio Arboleda-Flórez

Many mentally ill people are the victims of stigma, which leads to additional suffering and humiliation. Negative stereotypes and prejudicial attitudes against them are often reinforced by their media representation as unpredictable, violent and dangerous. Hence the importance of the study of stigma as an explanatory construct of much that transpires in the management of the mentally ill in our societies. This book describes the experience of stigmatization at the level of the individual, and seeks to measure stigma and discrimination from the following perspectives: Self imposed stigma due to shame, guilt and low self esteem; Socially imposed stigma due to social stereotyping and prejudice; and Structurally imposed stigma, caused by policies, practices, and laws that discriminate against the mentally ill. This book briefly describes programmes that aim to reduce such stigma then looks at ways to evaluate their effectiveness. It is the first book to focus on evaluation and research methodologies in stigma and mental health. It also: presents new interventions to reduce stigma describes the various international programmes which help reduce stigma discusses the use of the internet as an international tool to promote awareness of stigma in mental health Understanding the Stigma of Mental Illness is essential reading for clinicians and researchers who wish to apply or develop stigma reduction programmes. It is also a valuable addition to the libraries of political analysts, policy makers, clinicians, researchers, and all those interested in how to approach and measure this distressing social phenomenon.

Theory and Interventions

Understanding the Stigma of Mental Illness

Pan American Health Organization

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) may not imply changes in the immigration laws of its signatories, but it will make it easier for people to move freely among Canada, Mexico, and the United States. One of the concerns arising from NAFTA involves meeting the health care needs of people who move from one member country to another. The publication analyzes the legal implications of the access to health care by individuals from NAFTA countries who are temporarily working or residing in another member country. The book compares the health systems of Canada, the United States, and Mexico, focusing on their principles and objectives, legal framework, institutional structure, operational modalities, and outcomes. Detailing the similarities and differences among the systems of these three countries, this publication attempts to anticipate the treaty's potential benefit or detriment to access to health care services and examines the expectations and concerns that free trade generates in this respect.

Julio Arboleda-Flórez

Books

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