Stigma and Mental Illness

The Stigma Section of the World Psychiatric Association—through its network of international members--engages in scholarly, scientific, and public health activities designed to reduce prejudice and discrimination because of mental disorders and improve social inclusion for people with mental illness and their families. More specifically the Stigma Section:
1- Disseminates information about stigma and discrimination because of mental disorders through academic and technical publications, and through symposia and courses offered at WPA regional meetings and congresses.
2- Advances scientific knowledge about stigma through collaborative research and evaluation and;
3- Provides training opportunities to support the development of effective programs to fight stigma and discrimination because of mental disorders.
Section Officers
Co-Chair
Nicolas Rüsch
Nicolas Rüsch
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Section Public Mental Health Department of Psychiatry II, Ulm University Parkstraße 11
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89073 Ulm, Germany
Co-Chair
Norman Sartorius
Norman Sartorius
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Association for the Improvement of Mental health Programmes, 14 chemin Colladon
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1209 Geneva, Switzerland
Deputy Chair
Graham Thornicroft
Graham Thornicroft
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Professor of Community Psychiatry, Health Service and Population Research Department Address: Health Service and Population Research Department, King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, De Crespigny Park
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London SE5 8AF, UK
Secretary
Heather Stuart
Heather Stuart
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Room 324 Abramsky Hall, Queen’s University, Kingston
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Ontario K7L 3N6, Canada
Section member list can be found here
Section Activities
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The WPA Section on Stigma and Mental Illness will be co-organising the following Co-Sponsored meeting:
Title: Together Against Stigma Conference
Theme: Addressing stigma related to child and adolescent mental illness and promoting their mental health
City/Country: New Delhi / India
Dates: 12-14 November 2026
Organisers: George institute for Global Health, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, UNICEF and WPA Section on Stigma and Mental Illness
Venue AIIMS, New Delhi
Contact: Prof. Pallab K. Maulik | Email: pmaulik@georgeinstitute.org.in | Phone +918800493204