The Wounded Healer: an effective anti‐stigma intervention targeted at the medical profession?

Poster

Aims
To investigate whether a contact based, anti‐stigma intervention entitled the ‘Wounded Healer’ can positively influence participants’ views towards mental health challenges in medical students and doctors.

Background
Dr Daksha Emson, a brilliant psychiatrist with bipolar affective disorder (BPAD), tragically died following an extended suicide. An independent inquiry into Dr Emson’s death concluded that she was the victim of stigma within the NHS. Despite the perception that medics should be ‘invincible’ mental health challenges are common in this population. Fear of exposure to stigmatization is a critical factor contributing to symptom concealment and is a major barrier to accessing mental health services. The results of a recent meta‐analysis of outcome studies on challenging the stigma of mental illness revealed that social contact was better than education in reducing stigma for adults.

Method
‘The Wounded Healer’ was delivered by AH, an early‐career psychiatrist with first‐hand experience BPAD, to medical students and foundation doctors across the UK. The Wounded Healer incorporates references to Dr Emson’s case and first‐person narratives from doctors with mental health challenges. Immediately following the intervention, we hand distributed paper questionnaires that contained stigma constructs. Answers were on a Likert‐type scale and there was also space for free‐text comments which were subjected to thematic analysis.

Results
172/219 (78.5%) of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the talk made them more understanding and accepting of medical students and doctors with mental illness. 156/219 (71.3%) of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the talk made them more aware of the importance of registering with a GP and consulting him/her if they felt they were under mental distress.

Discussion
The majority of participants responded positively to the stigma constructs on the survey. This may have implications for healthcare professionals who are mothers with mental health challenges by possibly helping to reduce stigma from other healthcare professionals and by encouraging help‐seeking behaviour.

'The Wounded Healer' is also the title of a film produced and directed by Sal Anderson. This 30 minute documentary film features Dr Ahmed Hankir, a psychiatrist with experience of a mental health condition. 'Coming out proud' as someone with mental health experience, Dr Hankir gives a dramatic presentation promoting public awareness of mental health issues in a personal fight against stigma.