Combating Stigma

Welcome to this Web-Based Continuing Medical Education (CME) course program entitled “Combating Stigma for Physicians and other Health Professionals”. This interactive online course intends to educate family physicians and specialists in the recognition of stigma related to mental illness.  The course is designed to provide participants with an opportunity to recognize attitudes and behaviours that could potentially lead to stigma as well as provide an example of a practical clinical approach to helping doctors, other healthcare professionals and patients.

“Combating Stigma for Physicians and Other Health Professionals” is also introducing a fairly novel idea that we are not only after attitudinal change but also process or implementation change.  This approach will address some of the challenges of stigma especially social distancing, healthy social contact and good communication.

Learning objectives
After completing this course you will be able to:

1. Examine your attitudes, beliefs and behaviors toward persons with mental health problems, towards mental health providers, and to the social context and structures of health care delivery
2. Identify mental health problems as bio psychosocial including real organic disease
3. Describe an organized approach to the treatment of mental health issues using simple practical skills and competencies that work within a busy clinical setting.
4. Develop an increased level of comfort and interest in addressing Mental Health problems and effectively combat the various types of Mental health stigma in one's practice and health care system.