Action for Mental Health has been involved in the World Psychiatric Association’s (WPA’s) Global programme againststigma and discrimination related to schizophrenia. The programme has led to the creation of a special scientific section of the WPA on stigma and to a series of publications. AIMHP in collaboration with the WPA section organized several international conferences dealing with stigma of mental illness in Leipzig (2003), Queenstown (2005), Istanbul (2007), London (2009), Ottawa (2011), Tokyo (2013), San Francisco (2015), Copenhagen (2017), Singapore (2019) and Iceland (2024).The programme has also promoted collaboration with numerous anti-stigma programs which has led to the creation of the Global Alliance of anti-stigma programs.
The AIMHP has also participated in the development of several major publications related to stigma. Dr. Sartorius has spoken about the programme and about the lessons learned in the programme at numerous international and nationalconferences and congresses. He has also taken an active part in the creation of a research and action program related to Stigma called INDIGO.
A number of publications were produced over the years, including:
- Stuart H, Arboleda-Flórez J, Sartorius N (eds) (2005) Stigma and Mental Disorders: International Perspectives. World Psychiatry Volume 4, Supplement 1, September 2005.
- Arboleda-Flórez J, Sartorius N, editors. (2008) Understanding the Stigma of Mental Illness: Theory and Interventions. John Wiley & Sons; 213p (ISBN 978-0-470-72328-9)
- Stuart H, Arboleda-Florez J, Sartorius N. (2012). Paradigms Lost- Fighting Stigma and the Lessons Learned. Oxford University Press, 304p, (ISBN 978-0-19-979763-9).
- Sartorius N, Gaebel W, Cleveland HR, Stuart H, Akiyama T, Arboleda-Flórez J, Baumann AE, Gureje O, Jorge MR, Kastrup M, Suzuki Y, Tasman A. (2010) WPA guidance on how to combat stigmatization of psychiatry and psychiatrists (Special Article). World Psychiatry. 9:131-144.
- Gaebel W, Rössler W, Sartorius N.(eds.) (2017) The Stigma of Mental Illness – End of the Story? Springer International Publishing Switzerland AG. 656 p. (ISBN 9783-319-27837)
- Stuart H, Sartorius N. (2022) Paradigms lost, Paradigms Found – Lessons learned in the Fight Against the Stigma of Mental Illness – Second Edition, Oxford University Press.
The AIMHP has also participated in the process of development of a worldwide alliance of programs against stigma, the Global Alliance on Anti-stigma programs, which includes programs in a number of countries.
Recently, AIMHP has also been involved in the development of guidelines about action to reduce stigma of psychiatryand psychiatrists. A WPA task force, chaired by Dr. Sartorius reviewed the literature and made a series of recommendations to national psychiatric societies, to mental health personnel and to the media.
The AIMHP also participated in the development of the national mental health program in Bosnia &Herzegovina (carried out with the support of the Swiss Government) and organized the anti-stigma component of the national program in Bosnia & Herzegovina.
The AIMHP continues to participate in the GASA (Global Alliance on Anti stigma programs) and in the work of the World Psychiatric Association’s Section on Stigma, currently organizing a Together Against Stigma conference in India.
