Objective: Discrimination reported by mental health service users in England is high. The study aims to determine changes in mental health-related discrimination from 2008 to 2014.
Methods: Samples of mental health service users were interviewed from 2008 to 2014 using the Discrimination and Stigma Scale version 12. Social capital in terms of access to social resources is a marker of discrimination in terms of effects on social connections, and so from 2011, social capital also measured using the Resource Generator-UK.
Results: Fewer participants reported discrimination in one or more life areas in 2014 compared to 2008 (OR: 0.58, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.94 P = 0.03). A weighted multiple regression model found a decrease in overall discrimination in 2014 compared to 2008 (mean difference: -13.55, 95% CI: -17.32 to -9.78, P < 0.001). There was not a consistent in discrimination decline between each year. No differences in access to social resources were found.
Conclusions: Discrimination has fallen significantly over 2008-2014, although there was not a consistent decline between years. There is no evidence that social capital has increased.
Keywords: discrimination; evaluation research; social capital.
© 2016 The Authors. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.