Empowering Public Health Professionals: Join Our Anti-Stigma Training Program for a Healthier Community!

A new training course is helping health and social professionals in Northern Ireland better support people who have experienced substance use. After a successful pilot in Newcastle, this anti-stigma initiative is now expanding across the region.

Stigma is a serious issue. Negative attitudes and beliefs can lead to discrimination, which affects people’s mental and physical health and makes it harder for them to seek care. According to a study by the World Health Organization, stigma around health issues, especially mental health and substance use, is a significant barrier to effective treatment.

Newcastle City Council recognized this problem and partnered with Northumbria University to create a “train the trainer” program. This training focuses on understanding stigma, particularly for professionals who work with those affected by substance use. The first two groups of staff who completed the course reported feeling more informed and empowered.

Steve Wood, an Addictions and Mental Health Coordinator at Recovery College Collective, shared his impactful experience with the course. He emphasized how it promotes self-reflection and important conversations about stigma, helping participants question their own attitudes and behaviors.

Dr. Will McGovern, an expert in marginalized communities at Northumbria University, led the training development. He mentioned the goal is to create a supportive community where professionals can learn collectively about stigma and its effects. By engaging participants in group discussions and real-life scenarios, the course aims to challenge their views and equip them with practical strategies to counter stigma.

Kevin Bailey, from the Public Health Agency, expressed gratitude for this partnership and looked forward to seeing how trained professionals foster open discussions about stigma.

The push against stigma doesn’t stop with the training. Newcastle Council also created an anti-stigma awareness animation and hosted a conference that drew over 300 community members and service providers. This conference featured experts like Professor Carla Treloar, who is known for her work in anti-stigma movements.

The ongoing evaluation of this training will help measure its impact on health practitioners and track behavior changes. This data is vital and may support further funding to extend the course regionally.

As initiatives like these grow, they reflect a broader movement towards understanding and reducing stigma. Health equity is at the heart of these efforts, and organizations like Northumbria University aim to make a real difference in people’s lives by creating informed and compassionate care environments.

Reducing stigma isn’t just about training; it’s about fostering a culture of support and understanding for everyone, especially the most marginalized in our society.

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Centre for Health and Social Equity (CHASE), Business and Engagement, Society, Health and Life Sciences, Social Mobility