Psychiatrists from all Spain presented a manifesto against the stigma of people with mental illness.

-the manifesto of Oviedo is promoted by the Spanish psychiatric society (SEP), the Spanish society of Biological Psychiatry (SEPB) and the Spanish Foundation of Psychiatry and Mental Health (FEPSM)

-people with disease mental serious are those who suffer most the stigma

-psychiatrists have signed their accession to the manifesto at the Congress, during the four days he did, the so-called Blue space

Oviedo, November of 2011- the stigma of people with mental illness remains a scourge that persecutes these patients, hampers a health problem as common as it may be any other. As they have seen the Spanish society of Psychiatry (SEP), the Spanish society of Biological Psychiatry (SEPB) and the Spanish Foundation of Psychiatry and Mental Health (FEPSM) the rates of reduction of the fight against stigma in Spain show a clear delay.

For this reason, the three previous entities (SEP, SEPB and FEPSM) have promoted the manifesto in Oviedo against the stigma of people with mental illness, which has been approved and enacted within the celebration of the 15th National Congress of Psychiatry, which took place in the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos of Oviedo from 8 to 11 November.

The manifesto of Oviedo was founded aiming to inform politicians, health professionals, journalists and citizens in general on the need to eradicate stigma and discrimination that still today can be seen with regard to persons with mental illness.

The manifesto refers to all persons suffering from mental illness, and that all of them are susceptible to discrimination resulting from the stigma. However, are patients with a diagnosis of severe mental illness which suffer most from this problem.

As they demonstrate, it’s afflicted people of diseases affecting the brain, with adequate treatment, keep in most cases a behavior normal, perfectly capable of developing a vital activity as any other person without disease, integrated into society.

The Spanish society of Psychiatry (SEP), the Spanish society of Biological Psychiatry (SEPB) and the Spanish Foundation of Psychiatry and Mental Health (FEPSM) remind us that in Spain there is a legal framework which requires the protection of patients against stigma. Similarly, the national strategy for Mental Health 2009-2013 currently in force in the national health system has among its objectives the Elimination of stigma and discrimination against patients.

Also representatives of Psychiatry in Spain call to the media, by its ability to reach and influence on public opinion. Experts stress that much of the information on persons with mental illness occur in spaces of events. This fact amplified and perpetuates the stigma.

Experts even advocating a change in the terminology used to refer to these patients, leaning by the use of the formula persons with mental illness ”, or people with a diagnosis of … ”, as happens, for example, with people with disabilities.

The manifesto of Oviedo has been initialled by psychiatrists attending the 15th National Congress of Psychiatry in a stand called Blue space during the four days that lasted this scientific event. Also, the manifesto has been approved in a formal and definitive manner during the celebration of the respective assemblies of the Spanish society of Psychiatry and the Spanish society of Biological Psychiatry.