Diminishing the self-stigma of mental illness by coming out proud
Abstract
This randomized controlled trial examined the impact of the Coming Out Proud (COP) program on self-stigma, stigma stress, and depression. Research participants who experienced mental health challenges were randomly assigned to a three session COP program (n=51) or a waitlist control (n=75). Outcome measures that assessed the progressively harmful stages of self-stigma, stigma stress appraisals, and depression were administered at pre-test, post-test, and one-month follow-up. People completing COP showed significant improvement at post-test and follow-up in the more harmful aspects of self-stigma compared to the control group. COP participants also showed improvements in stigma stress appraisals. Women participating in COP showed significant post-test and follow-up reductions in depression after COP compared to the control group. Men did not show this effect. Future research should determine whether these benefits also enhance attitudes related to recovery, empowerment, and self-determination.
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The review could not identify any programs that explicitly focus on reducing self-stigma, such as via psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring or disclosure approaches (e.g. Honest Open Proud).
“Nevertheless, we could not identify any programs that explicitly focus on reducing self-stigma, such as via psychoeducation, cognitive restructuring or disclosure approaches (e.g. Honest Open Proud 12).”
From Review of Australian initiatives to reduce stigma towards people with complex mental illness: what exists and what works? (2021) · cites this paper as [12]
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References 34 · Cited by 149
- Authors
- Corrigan, P. W., Larson, J. E., Michaels, P. J., Buchholz, B. A., Rossi, R. D., Fontecchio, M. J., Castro, D., Gause, M., Krzyżanowski, R., & Rüsch, N.
- Affiliations
- Illinois Institute of Technology (US)
- Universität Ulm (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Corrigan, Patrick W.
- Venue
- Psychiatry Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-09
- Volume
- 229
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 148-154
- ISSN
- 0165-1781 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1856805750
- Cited by
- 149
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 17 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 2
- FWCI
- 27.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychiatry Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- The California Mental Health Services Authority
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychology and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
- Keywords
- self-stigma, mental illness, depression, mental health stigma, gender differences, mental health recovery
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Mental Disorders, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Power, Psychological, Self Concept, Social Stigma
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