TUNIS — Tunisia is taking bold steps to reshape how mental health is perceived and treated within its healthcare system. In a country where stigma has long discouraged people from seeking care, a new program aims to equip future doctors with the skills and empathy to treat patients with mental illness without prejudice.
The initiative, launched by a group of Tunisian psychiatrists as part of the INDIGO Network, introduces the READ (Responding to Experienced and Anticipated Discrimination) anti-stigma training to medical students. Starting in the 2022/2023 academic year, fifth-year students at Tunis Medical School will receive the training during their psychiatry rotation.
The program focuses on helping students recognize and overcome their own biases, develop empathy, and respond effectively to patients’ experiences of discrimination. Early assessments suggest that such interventions not only improve attitudes toward mental illness but also have the potential to reduce barriers to care, improve treatment outcomes, and foster a culture of compassion in healthcare settings.
“Medical students are the future of healthcare in Tunisia,” said a participating psychiatrist. “If we can change their attitudes early, we can gradually break down the stigma that prevents people from seeking help, accessing quality care, and recovering fully.”
The success of the program in Tunis has sparked interest in expanding the training to other medical schools in Tunisia, as well as adapting it for schools of nursing and health sciences. Researchers note that similar anti-stigma programs have shown positive results across multiple low- and middle-income countries, with benefits including increased empathy, reduced anxiety among students, and improved patient care.
Mental health experts emphasize that stigma remains one of the most significant obstacles in Tunisia’s healthcare system. Studies show that patients often avoid seeking help due to fear of discrimination, with serious consequences for early diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. Programs like READ aim to address this problem at its root by equipping healthcare professionals with both knowledge and practical skills to foster supportive environments for patients.
While Tunisia has made progress in expanding mental health services, integrating anti-stigma education into medical curricula represents a new frontier in the fight for equitable and compassionate healthcare. Advocates hope that by transforming attitudes in the classroom, the benefits will spread outward to patients, families, and communities nationwide.
References: The program and its scientific basis are informed by extensive research, including studies published in The Lancet Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, and BMC Medical Education. These studies confirm that interventions like READ can meaningfully reduce stigma and discrimination toward people living with mental illness.
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