Breaking the Silence: Raising Awareness & Reducing Stigma Around Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health

ISSUP in Pakistan invites you to its upcoming webinar: "Breaking the Silence: Raising Awareness and Reducing Stigma Around Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health"

Date: Tuesday, 3rd June 2025

Time: 5:00 PM Pakistan | 1:00 PM UK

Register for the Webinar

This webinar will explore the stigma surrounding substance use disorders and mental health, focusing on its impact and strategies for meaningful change.

Key topics include:

1. Defining and Understanding Stigma – How stigma affects individuals and communities.

2. Breaking the Silence – Encouraging open conversations and shifting societal attitudes.

3. Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders – Exploring the connection and the importance of integrated support.

4. Practical Approaches – Effective strategies for reducing stigma at the community level.

5. Supportive Environments – Creating safe spaces where individuals feel empowered to seek help.

The session will include interactive elements such as live polls and a Q&A segment, offering attendees actionable takeaways to promote empathy and challenge stigma.

This webinar is essential for professionals, advocates, and anyone committed to advancing mental health and substance use disorder support.

Intended Audience: 

• Mental Health Professionals: Psychologists, counselors, social workers, and therapists who seek to enhance their understanding of stigma towards substance use disorders and mental health and develop effective intervention strategies.
• Healthcare Providers: Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers involved in treating substance use and mental health disorders.
• Educators and Academic Institutions: Teachers, school counselors, and university staff interested in fostering supportive environments for students facing substance use and mental health challenges.
• Community Leaders and Advocates: Individuals working in community outreach, support groups, and non-profit organizations focused on mental health awareness and substance use prevention.
• General Public: Anyone interested in learning more about the impact of stigma on mental health and substance use, and how they can contribute to creating a more compassionate society.

Learning Outcomes:

By attending this webinar, participants will:

1. Obtain an Understanding of the Impact of Stigma:
   Gain a comprehensive understanding of how stigma affects individuals with substance use and mental health challenges, including its social, emotional, and psychological consequences.

2. Gain Insights into Strategies to Reduce Stigma:
   Learn practical methods to reduce stigma in their communities, workplaces, and social circles, promoting open, non-judgmental conversations about mental health and substance use.

3. Gain Capacity to Recognize the Link Between Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder:
   Understand the connection between mental health disorders and substance use, and how integrated treatment approaches can improve outcomes for affected individuals.

4. Understand Requirements for the Creation of Supportive Environments:
   Acquire tools to foster supportive and safe environments where individuals feel comfortable seeking help without fear of judgment or discrimination.

5. Implement Effective Community-Based Approaches:
   Discover successful community initiatives and programs that have effectively challenged stigma and provided education and support to those in need.

Presenter:

Dr. Shammem Akhtar

Dr. Shammem Akhtar is an accomplished psychologist and researcher specializing in adolescent mental health, substance use, and the influence of family dynamics on psychological outcomes. Her work has significantly advanced understanding of parental influence on adolescent psychopathology and emotional regulation, as well as the relationship between social media use and body satisfaction.

Dr. Akhtar has co-authored multiple studies examining the links between substance use, depression, and social anxiety—particularly among university students—and has played a key role in developing mental health intervention programs. With a strong foundation in both clinical psychology and research methodology, she has worked across academic and community settings, training professionals and leading awareness initiatives aimed at reducing stigma around mental health and substance use.

A passionate advocate for evidence-based approaches, Dr. Akhtar is committed to empowering individuals, families, and communities to better manage mental health and substance-related challenges.

Publications and Contributions:

Her contributions to the field include co-authoring research on social media addiction and adolescent well-being, and contributing to the development and validation of mental health assessment tools—such as the Kucher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS) in Pakistan.

Moderator

Dr. Waqas Ahmed

Dr. Waqas Ahmed is a distinguished Doctor of Psychology, clinician, and researcher with a focus on Cross-cultural psychology. Holding a Ph.D. in Psychology from University of Gujrat. Dr. Ahmed's work has been published in Psychological Review and Pak Armed Forces Medical Journal. In his clinical practice, Dr. Ahmed integrates cutting-edge research findings with compassionate therapeutic care, offering specialized interventions for linguistics and individualism vs collectivism. He is dedicated to advancing the field of psychology while providing exceptional support to his clients.

References

1. Corrigan, P. W., & Shapiro, J. R. (2010). The impact of stigma on the mental health recovery process. In G. L. S. Spandler, L. S. McGorry, & D. C. Brown (Eds.), Social work and mental health. Routledge.

   • This reference offers insights into how stigma can delay or impede recovery for those affected by mental health and substance use disorders.

2. Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2001). Conceptualizing stigma. Annual Review of Sociology, 27(1), 363-385.

   • A foundational work that defines stigma, explores its impact on individuals and communities, and discusses strategies to address it.

3. World Health Organization (WHO). (2019). Mental Health and Substance Use: Substance use and mental health. WHO.

   • Provides global perspectives and strategies for integrating mental health and substance use services, including anti-stigma campaigns.

4. Reavley, N. J., & Jorm, A. F. (2010). The influence of stigma on seeking help from mental health services. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 44(12), 1042-1049.

   • This study discusses how stigma affects individuals' willingness to seek professional help for mental health issues and substance use.

5. Storr, C. L., & Ialongo, N. (2008). Substance use and its relationship to mental health problems in adolescence. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 37(2), 362-376.

   • This research highlights the link between adolescent substance use and mental health issues, making it relevant for strategies on reducing stigma in youth populations.

6. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (2020). Stigma and substance use disorder.

   • NIDA’s online resources discuss the role of stigma in substance use and provide evidence-based approaches for reducing stigma in treatment settings.

7. Thornicroft, G., & Tansella, M. (2004). Community psychiatry: An international perspective. Springer.

   • A comprehensive guide on how community psychiatry and support services can reduce stigma and offer better access to care for those with mental health and substance use challenges.

Webinars and online events delivered and hosted by the International Society of Substance Use Professionals (ISSUP) are provided for informational purposes only. They are educational in nature and do not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.