The term stigma refers to problems of knowledge (ignorance), attitudes
(prejudice) and behaviour (discrimination). Most research in this area has
been based on attitude surveys, media representations of mental illness and
violence, has only focused upon schizophrenia, has excluded direct
participation by service users, and has included few intervention studies.
However, there is evidence that interventions to improve public knowledge
about mental illness can be effective. The main challenge in future is to
identify which interventions will produce behaviour change to reduce
discrimination against people with mental illness.