Co-Producing an Intersectional Stigma Reduction Programme for People in the Criminal Justice System with Mental Health Issues
Explore how to co-produce a stigma reduction program with people in the criminal justice system who experience mental health issues. Investigate intersectional stigma and use mixed methods to develop and pilot an evidence-based intervention addressing barriers to social reintegration.
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Project Description
Project Overview
Individuals in the criminal justice system (CJS) with mental health conditions face compounded stigma related to mental illness, offending history, substance use, and ethnicity. Few stigma reduction interventions target this group, and none are co-produced by them. This project aims to address that gap by collaboratively developing an intersectional stigma reduction programme.
What You Will Do
In year one, you will undertake a literature review on stigma reduction efforts for people in the CJS with mental health issues and engage with current/former forensic patients and carers. Year two involves developing materials, potentially including arts-based methods. In year three, you will pilot and evaluate the intervention using mixed methods.
Expected Outcomes
The project will produce a replicable, evidence-based stigma reduction intervention co-developed with people with lived experience. It will target the general public, social supervisors, and healthcare professionals, fostering partnerships and prioritizing marginalized voices.
Why This Matters
Stigma severely limits housing, employment, and social integration for mental health-affected individuals in the CJS. This research aligns with national and international calls to eradicate mental illness stigma by centering lived experience, thus supporting rehabilitation and social justice.
Eligibility
Supervisor Profile
Dr Sarah Kilbane is a researcher at the University of Greenwich specializing in forensic mental health stigma. Her work focuses on stigma, recovery-oriented language, and threat assessment in forensic contexts, contributing to evidence-based interventions for marginalized populations involved in the criminal justice system.