Interpersonal contact and the stigma of mental illness: A review of the literature

Title: Interpersonal contact and the stigma of mental illness: A review of the literature Background. Stigmatization of mental illness is widespread in Western societies (Crisp et al., 2001) and other cultures (Chung et al., 2001). Furthermore, researchers have found that stigma is detrimental to the well being of persons with a mental illness (Wahl, 1999), potentially resulting in decreased life satisfaction and discrimination in obtaining housing and employment (Link & Phelan, 2001). It is for these reasons researchers have sought methods for reducing stigma. Aims: One strategy purported to reduce stigma is interpersonal contact with people with a mental illness. This article reviews the literature of contact and stigma reduction and provides considerations and recommendations for future research. Method: A thorough review of article databases was conducted to identify all relevant studies. Studies were then grouped into retrospective and prospective reports of contact. Conclusions: Research shows that both retrospective and prospective contact tends to reduce stigmatizing views of persons with a mental illness. However, this literature has been plagued with various methodological problems, and other factors (such as the nature of the contact) have rarely been considered. Declaration of interest: None