More Optimistic Recovery Attitudes Are Associated with Less Stigmatization of People with Mental Illness among Healthcare Professionals Working on Acute and Semi-Acute Psychiatric Wards

Stigmatization towards individuals with mental illness is common among mental healthcare professionals, yet poses a key concern regarding the provision of effective support and therapy for those undergoing psychiatric treatment. In this study, we examined to what extent recovery attitudes among mental healthcare professionals are associated with stigmatization. We conducted a survey among staff members (n = 110) of a large psychiatric hospital working on acute or semi-acute wards one year following a multi-professional training session, which included the promotion of recovery orientation as a therapeutic approach. The survey included measures such as gender, age, professional background, years of working experience, ward setting (mostly open or closed doors), recovery attitudes (RAQ-7), and stigmatization of individuals with mental illness (OMS-HC scale). Mental healthcare professionals who attended training in recovery orientation significantly more frequently stated to know the concept of recovery compared to those who did not receive training. In addition, recovery attitudes were more optimistic and significantly associated with levels of stigmatization among professionals who were familiar with the concept of recovery. Despite the cross-sectional study design that did not test causal links, these findings suggest that enhancing recovery attitudes through training may lead to less stigmatization among mental healthcare professionals.