Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

CMHS Consumer Affairs E-News
June 7, 2007, Vol. 07-92

Free Teleconference Training

Improving Provider Attitudes, Behaviors and Practices toward People with Mental Illness

The ADS Center conducts teleconference trainings on topics related to advancing knowledge about stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness and how to counter it. These events are 90-minutes in length, during which time presenters, mental health consumers, family members, and other representatives share knowledge, insights and experiences.

Register Now for Our Teleconference on June 20, 2007!
http://www.promoteacceptance.samhsa.gov/archtelPDF/EBIReport_FINAL_Tagged.pdf

Improving Provider Attitudes, Behaviors and Practices toward People with Mental Illness

Mental health professionals and other health care providers are in a unique position to impact the lives of people with mental illnesses. Because of their scientific knowledge and special relationship with mental health consumers, providers have a singular opportunity through their attitudes and practices to promote self-esteem, self-efficacy, decision making about treatment, illness self-management practices, and recovery.

Sometimes providers may be unwitting sources of prejudice and discrimination associated with mental illness. These attitudes toward people with mental illnesses threaten the effectiveness of psychiatric treatment, possibly hindering the recovery process. It is well documented that stigma towards people with mental illnesses is a major obstacle to seeking treatment, better care, and improvement in the quality of their lives.

This teleconference will

• Explore the sources of stigma generated by providers and the importance of modifying these attitudes to improve treatment outcomes.
• Provide an overview of successful activities that have been conducted to improve cooperation between providers and their patients.
• Discuss tools for creating an environment that fosters the development of meaningful and effective consumer/provider relationships.

Please join us on June 20, 2007 from 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. EST for this teleconference. Register now online at SAMHSA ADS Center's Web site.

About the SAMHSA ADS Center

SAMHSA's Resource Center to Address Discrimination and Stigma (ADS Center) helps people design, implement, and operate programs that reduce discrimination and stigma associated with mental illnesses. With the most up-to-date research and information, the ADS Center helps individuals, organizations, and governments counter such discrimination and stigma in the community, in the workplace, and in the media.

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The Center for Mental Health Services is a component of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, United States Department of Health and Human Services.