Measuring mental illness stigma in Scotland: The Scottish Mental Illness Stigma Study (SMISS)

Description

Stigma towards those living with mental illness occurs globally and endures across many areas of life. The Scottish Mental Illness Stigma Study (SMISS) sought to explore experiences of stigma and discrimination amongst people living with mental illness in Scotland in the first national survey of its kind in Europe.
Adults in Scotland who identified as having experienced stigma as a result of living with severe, complex and/or enduring mental illness were invited to take part in a survey exploring participant’s experiences and anticipation of stigma and discrimination across 14 life areas, and the impact of these on their behaviour. Questions spanned public, structural and self-stigma.
SMISS was inspired by the Australian National Stigma Report Card (reference report). With permission from the Australian research team, their original Our Turn to Speak survey was used as a template for the development of the survey for a Scottish population. Survey development and subsequent qualitative research was guided by an advisory group comprising people with lived experience and representatives from project and wider strategic partners.
The survey comprised three sections of questions covering: demographics (including questions relating to diagnosis based on a hybrid version of ICD-10 and 11 criteria), attitudes towards mental health and questions about stigma and discrimination related to specific life areas.
The survey ran between November 2021 and March 2022 and received 346 eligible responses. Qualitative research was undertaken with 70 participants to add depth to survey findings, and to gather additional evidence from groups underrepresented in the survey (men, people aged over 65, and people from more diverse minority ethnic backgrounds).
Survey data revealed the devastating impact that mental health stigma and discrimination have on people across every life area explored in the survey. Key findings showed that stigma and discrimination can lead to difficulty accessing or engaging with critical services and can impede people’s ability to sustain positive relationships, maintain meaningful employment and take part in community groups and volunteering.

Period	3 Jun 2024 → 5 Jun 2024
Event title	World Psychiatric Association: Together Against Stigma
Event type	Conference
Location	Reykjavík, IcelandShow on map
Degree of Recognition	International