Stigma Through Association: Experiences of Families, Caregivers, and Mental Health Practitioners

 

A webinar by the EPA Council of National Psychiatric Associations

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For World Day of Social Justice, the EPA is pleased to announce the webinar “Stigma Through Association: Experiences of Families, Caregivers, and Mental Health Practitioners.”, taking place on Monday, 23 February 2026, from 16:30 to 18:00 CET. This webinar is organised by the EPA Council of National Psychiatric Associations.

DETAILS

Title: Stigma Through Association: Experiences of Families, Caregivers, and Mental Health Practitioners Depression – Update and Preview
Date: Monday, 23 February 2026
Time: 16:30 – 18:00 CET
Platform: Zoom
Registrations: Open

KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The webinar will offer a conceptual overview of stigma by association, followed by research evidence on its effects on families and mental health professionals. The practical implications based on the theoretical background are expected to assist those providing care for patients and caregivers and also offer insights into maintaining professional well-being and overcoming negative attitudes towards psychiatrists.

PROGRAMME

16:30 – 16:35 | Prof. Bernardo Carpiniello – Welcome and introduction
16:40 – 16:45 | Dr. Koray Başar – Welcome, Context and speakers’ introduction
16:45 – 17:30 | Prof. Sir Graham Thornicroft – Evidence for effective stigma reduction
17:30 – 17:40 | Prof. Kirsten Catthoor – Hope for a future with less psychiatric stigma
17:40 – 17:55 | Q&A and Discussion
17:55 – 18:00 | Prof. Bernardo Carpiniello & Dr. Koray Başar – Conclusions

ABSTRACT

Stigma may be transferred to people who do not personally possess the stigmatizing attribute; hence, the previously nonstigmatized person is “obliged to share some of the discredit of the stigmatized” according to Goffman. These people affected by stigma-by-association, often considered as the families and partners of stigmatized individuals, may experience similar negative treatment and disapproval from others as a consequence of their interaction with stigmatized individuals or groups.

Although there is a dearth of research in this domain, “courtesy stigma” has been shown to limit the social support and social opportunities available to family members. Recently, research has extended to the extensive network of persons who provide health and social services to stigmatized groups. In the mental health domain, it may be associated with job dissatisfaction and poor resilience, with a significant impact on the professionals and care delivery. Furthermore, stigma by association may play an important role in the societies attitudes to psychiatrists and psychiatric practices.

Professor Thornicroft will present the lecture, following an introduction by the moderators. Professor Catthoor will briefly facilitate the discussion with a short presentation on the main themes of the lecture. Then, moderators will lead the Q&A session.

MODERATORS

• Bernardo Carpiniello, Past-Chair of the EPA Council of NPAs, Professor Emeritus, State University of Cagliari, Italy – Biography
• Koray Başar, Chair-Elect of the EPA Council of NPAs, Associate Professor, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye – Biography

SPEAKERS

• Sir Graham Thornicroft, Professor Emeritus of Community Mental Health, Centre for Global Mental Health, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, United Kingdom – Biography
• Kirsten Catthoor, MD, Psychiatric Hospital Stuivenberg and Psychiatric Hospital Sint-Elizabeth, Antwerp, Belgium – Biography