The Stigma Effect

How do we, as a society, reduce stigmatization of the seriously mentally ill? As Patrick Corrigan persuasively argues in this thorough inquiry into the subject, we should listen to their stories, for then we will discover fellow human beings, and not the “other” we fear. -- Robert Whitaker, author of <i>Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness</i> This is a special book. Not only does Corrigan provide the best introduction to mental illness that I have seen, as well as providing concrete guidance on how to end the stigma associated with it, but by interweaving his own experiences, Corrigan offers the academic community a new and inspiring model for disseminating our work in a more engaging and effective way. The result is a book that raises the bar for the rest of us. -- Larry Davidson, Yale University School of Medicine The strength of this book is the way it balances the interconnected components of self-stigma and public stigma, with equally strong treatment of both. It will be of interest to people interested or involved in stigma reduction, either as advocates, policy folks, or personally. -- Stephanie Knaak, University of Calgary The book is useful for anyone teaching or practicing in the fields of counseling, social work, psychology, or medical education and public health. Recommended. * Choice * Marrying empirical social science with an advocate’s impulse grounded in his own lived experience with mental illness, Corrigan produces an analysis that is simultaneously rigorous and passionate. * American Journal of Sociology *