Many people affected by Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are not treated in time or are not treated at all and suffer from severe complications, impairments and disabilities. These complications can often lead to stigma and discrimination. A significant proportion may develop poor mental wellbeing, or mental conditions such as depression and / or anxiety, which is often compounded by experiences of exclusion and discrimination.

These Guides on Stigma and Mental Wellbeing are a co-production of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP) and the Neglected Tropical Disease NGO Network (NNN). They were comprehensively rewritten during 2019 to incorporate improved insights, align with current evidence, and make mental wellbeing an integral component of the series. The writers include specialist researchers, NGO staff, mental health professionals, policy makers, programme managers and people personally affected by NTDs.

The Guides provide best practice information and recommendations from various disciplines on how stigma manifests, how it can be reduced, and the tools available to assess the experience of stigma and mental wellbeing. Although written with a focus on NTDs, the content is relevant for people working to address all forms of health-related stigma and promote mental wellbeing in their interventions, policies, trainings, care packages, evaluations, or other services. Health and Social Welfare departments, development programmes and other agencies can use these Guides to promote access and inclusion of people affected by NTD-related disabilities into their services, activities and facilities. The Guides are also a useful resource for those responsible for training people working in services where clients may experience stigma and poor mental wellbeing. The other intended audience is people who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing stigma and may be distressed as a result, along with their family members and carers.