Effect of mindfulness based psycho-educational program on internalized stigma among psychiatric patients

Psychiatric patients often accept and internalize the stereotypes and prejudices existing in society about their conditions, which is known as internalized stigma or self-stigma. The creation of mindfulness could be an effective approach in fighting self-stigmatization. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of mindfulness-based psycho-educational program on internalized stigma among psychiatric patients. A quasi-experimental research design (pre and post-test) was utilized in this study. 50 psychiatric inpatients at the New Minia Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Hospital were included. Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale was used in the study. The study results revealed in a marked decrease in internalized stigma levels at post-test and follow-up test than at pre-test with highly statistically significant differences. The study concluded that mindfulness based-psycho-educational program was effective in reducing internalized stigma among psychiatric patients. Continuous provision of psycho-educational programs to increase patients’ awareness about the psychiatric disorders which help in reducing stigma was recommended.