Dr. Patrick W. Corrigan is a professor and researcher who studies the impacts of mental health-related stigma and examines how we can reduce stigma and promote empowerment in its place
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Dr. Corriganopens in new window is a psychologist, researcher, and advocate who has conducted groundbreaking research on stigma, self-advocacy, and empowerment among people with mental illnesses and other marginalized identities. He is a distinguished professor of psychology at the Illinois Institute of Technology and leads the National Consortium for Stigma and Empowerment. Dr. Corrigan has been open about his own lived experience with mental illness, including mental illness-related stigma, and how those experiences have inspired him to research how to lessen stigma and its harmful effects.
Dr. Corrigan has published extensive research on stigma, especially stigma related to mental illness, and how that stigma impacts people’s access to high quality and effective medical and mental health care. He has also researched disability- and disease-related stigma more broadly, as well as the impacts of other aspects of identity (e.g., sexual orientation, race and ethnicity) and social disadvantage (e.g., poverty) on health and well-being.
Corrigan, P. (2004). How stigma interferes with mental health care. American Psychologist, 59(7), 614–625. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.59.7.614opens in new window
Corrigan, P. W., Morris, S. B., Michaels, P. J., Rafacz, J. D., & Rüsch, N. (2012). Challenging the public stigma of mental illness: A meta-analysis of outcome studies. Psychiatric Services, 63(10), 963–973. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201100529opens in new window
Mental Illness, Stigma, Health
The development of resources to broaden diversity and representation in the teaching of high school psychology resources is an APA Committee of Teachers of Psychology in Secondary Schools initiative supported by funding from the American Psychological Foundation David and Carol Myers Fund. This resource was developed by Kara Ayers, PhD; Emily Lund, PhD; Erika Sanborne; and Allison Shaver.