Review of Anti-Stigma and Pro-Recovery Programs

Abstract

Hope and the ability to overcome stigmatizing experiences have been identified as a key to recovery. Accordingly, various protocols have been developed to help generate hope and more efficient ways of coping with the stigma associated with mental illness. The objective of this article is to review different programs that address the issue of selfstigma as a fundamental barrier in the recovery process. After reviewing previous approaches, the program GENERA is presented, a workshop created and developed in Argentina to promote recovery, integrating international perspectives with local Latin American experiences. The paper concludes that it is necessary to alert about the importance of using adapted standardized tools to promote recovery, as well as to contribute to the construction of local resources, socioculturally adapted, that can favor and facilitate the social inclusion of mental health services' users.