Anti-Stigmatization and ethical perspectives on mental illness and genetic technologies

People with mental illness suffer from their disorder as well as from social stigma. This paper explores the bio-psycho-social reasons that underlie human stigma and proposes potential anti-stigmatization strategies. Furthermore, this paper presents a multi-component, multi-level intervention genetic psychiatry protocol addressing stigma prevention. Significant levels of social stigma still pervade Taiwanese culture, and a potential crisis of genetic psychiatry exists in cases where mental illness is identified. Promoting humanistic, ethical, and caring attitudes and enhancing genetic nursing education at both the community level and amongst health professional are central to ensuring the rights and quality of life of the mentally ill in Taiwan society.