"Recovery Speaks": A Photovoice Intervention to Reduce Stigma Among Primary Care Providers

Preliminary findings are reported from a photovoice intervention, "Recovery Speaks," to reduce primary care provider stigma in regard to people with mental illness and addiction.

Twenty-seven primary care providers were recruited through a practice-based research network. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention-attending a one-hour performance followed by discussion-or to no intervention. Provider stigma was evaluated by using established measures of stigma and recovery and qualitative responses. Linear mixed models controlling for baseline differences compared changes in provider stigma across time and groups.

Providers who attended Recovery Speaks demonstrated significantly decreased negative stereotypes, attribution of dangerousness, fear, desire to coerce people into treatment, desire to segregate people from the community, and desire for avoidance. More desire to help and more hope for recovery were also found.

Witnessing people's unique recovery stories and how they contribute to their communities may reduce provider stigma.