Stigma can have a huge impact on the lives of people living with mental illness. That needs to change, but how can we make it happen? A Brief History of Stigma explores the past and present of stigma to give a solid basis to examine strategies to reduce stigma and critically evaluate their effectiveness. It also incorporates the author's experiences as a former mental health nurse living with a chronic mental illness. The book is divided into three parts. Part I explores what exactly stigma is, including relevant sociological theory and common stereotypes. Part II looks at some of the contexts in which stigma can occur, including the media and health care. Part III explores different stigma reduction strategies and what the research has to say about their effectiveness. You'll likely be surprised to learn how ineffective certain commonly used strategies are when it comes to changing public attitudes. This book is for anyone who's interested in understanding stigma and making the world a better place for people with mental illness. Together, we can create positive change!