Marvin OnumonuNewcastle City Council has launched a anti-stigma training programme for health and social care staff working with people who have experience of substance use, rolling it out across Northern Ireland after a pilot scheme ran in Newcastle.
Newcastle City Council commissioned Northumbria University to develop a ‘train the trainer’ course aimed at helping public health workers better understand stigma and its effects.
Two groups completed the two-day course this year and reported improvements in their understanding and practice.
The training was then offered to staff from all six local authorities in Northern Ireland and has attracted attention as a model for anti-stigma work.
Steve Wood, addictions and mental health coordinator at Recovery College Collective and Revival Newcastle, said: “There is no doubt from not only my perspective, but the many others I have met through this programme, that the anti-stigma course is a hugely relevant and important piece of work.
“I have on both occasions left the sessions feeling reflective, informed and empowered.
“The potential impact cannot be underestimated, as we left asking important questions of both ourselves and others.”
Wood added: “Questions that beforehand would have not been asked and instead would have led to, in some cases, stigmatisation.
“It feels more than just a programme of essential learning and discussion, it feels like a movement.
“A movement of connection, self-reflection and ultimately change. Many times, we hear of the want to eliminate stigma.”
He said: “However, that often comes with a lack of understanding of what stigma actually is.
“This course not only defines it with clarity but allows you to truly begin the process of eradicating it.”
Dr Will McGovern, associate professor for marginalised communities at Northumbria University, led the training development and delivery.
McGovern said: “By developing this course, we are trying to bring a community of practice together and create a space for people to collaboratively learn about stigma and how it can impact their work.
“Working in the substance use space can be both rewarding and challenging, and we want to empower those delivering essential services by developing their understanding of stigma and the various types of anti-stigma interventions, as well as help them to further their understanding and practice around some really sensitive subject matters.
“Through reflective group tasks, practice scenarios, discussions, case study reviews and the involvement of those with lived experience of stigma we are providing those working in this space with a challenging, rounded and informed view of stigma and its impact.”
Staff on the course identified priority areas for challenging stigma and drew up three-step action plans to implement at work.
Kevin Bailey, regional joint lead for substance use at the public health agency in Northern Ireland, said: “I am grateful for our partnership with Northumbria University and the willingness of Newcastle City Council to commission the development and rollout of this new anti-stigma training course designed to support health and social professionals working with people with experience of substance use.
“Our first cohort of individuals with lived and living experience and health and social care professionals have been trained and I look forward to hearing how they collaboratively create the conditions for open and honest dialogue on reducing stigma.”
Newcastle City Council has also worked with regional universities to produce an anti-stigma awareness animation and delivered a continuing professional development conference for more than 300 practitioners, service providers and community members.
The conference covered stigma, trauma, substance use and domestic violence, with speakers including international anti-stigma lead Carla Treloar.
McGovern is now leading an evaluation of the training in both Northern Ireland and Newcastle.
The evaluation aims to review the wider impact on health, primary and social care staff, and to assess behaviour changes in professional groups after the course.
It is hoped evaluation findings will support further funding to extend the programme.
McGovern added: “It’s been great to see the immediate impact and the ongoing interest in this training.
“We’re now looking forward to developing our approach, gathering evidence and considering the evaluation outputs that will allow us to continue to develop and refine the product for future use.”
