Stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses are serious problems that can lead to many negative effects. This study examined providers' awareness of consumers' daily lived experience of discrimination.We surveyed 51 peer employees and 52 licensed clinicians to learn how they viewed the extent of public stigma and discrimination.Clinicians, women, and those who had observed a friend with a mental illness treated unfairly perceived significantly higher levels of public discrimination than did their counterparts (adjusted R2 = .399, p < .001). Men's perceptions of public discrimination were more strongly affected by personal contact.Mental health providers are uniquely situated to help consumers deal with the effects of discrimination and should incorporate this issue into their clinical practice. Further research should examine the reasons for differences in perception and how these differences relate to provider behavior and consumer outcomes.
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