The Viewpoint discrimination survey – the extent of discrimination faced by mental health service users in England

Background/Objectives: The Viewpoint survey collects data to benchmark mental health consumers’ experience of stigma and discrimination, prior to the launch of and during a national anti-stigma programme in England, Time to Change. We report here the results of the baseline and first year survey undertaken in 2008 and 2009 respectively. Much of the previous research on discrimination focuses on non-service user's intended behaviours and attitudes towards mental health. The study aims to provide evidence of experienced and anticipated discrimination in a number of different life areas, directly from service users’ themselves; which can help point towards areas to be addressed by future policy change and research.

Methods: 537 participants in 2008 and 1,047 participants in 2009 using NHS mental health services took part in a telephone survey, using the Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC). Five different NHS Trusts participated in the survey each year, and we aim to interview up to 200 participants from each Trust. NHS Trusts were selected using an index of deprivation measure. Data includes items relating to experiences of discrimination, items on anticipated discrimination and items on positive discrimination experienced in the last 12 months. The majority of interviewers trained to administer the DISC had personal experience of mental health problems.

Results: The results of the 2008 and 2009 surveys will be presented. Comparisons between the 2008 and 2009 survey in terms of experienced discrimination in numerous life areas and anticipated discrimination will also be presented. There were significant reductions in discrimination from a number of common sources in the 2009 survey compared to 2008 survey.

Discussion/Conclusions: This study supports the need for anti-stigma programmes, targeting family, friends and health professionals. This study suggests that the continuing high levels of discrimination in hiring practices need to be addressed, and that more needs to be done to ensure that employees with mental health problems are treated fairly. Although Time to Changes target audience is not the service user population, the Viewpoint survey provides a measure of the amount of discrimination experienced by service users in a 12 month period. By comparing these results year on year, we will provide a snapshot into how discriminating behaviour is manifested over the course of the Time to Change campaign.

Funding: Big Lottery, Comic Relief and Shift.

Keywords: Discrimination, stigmatization, mental disorders.