Fernandes, Nuno AgostinhoMendes, AnaFerreira, CarlaSão João, RicardoCoelho, TeresaMassano, Teresa2019-09-302019-09-302019-08Fernandes, N., Mendes, A., Ferreira, C., São João, R., Coelho, T. & Massano, T. (2019). Incluir – Art as a weapon in psychiatry. Poster apresentado WPA World Congress of Psychiatry, 19, Lisboa.http://hdl.handle.net/10400.15/2723Objectives Assess the impact of the project INcluir on stigma and self-esteem perceived by individuals with mental illness (MI). Background and Individuals with MI are often confronted with stigma and prejudgement and subject to social exclusion. Self-esteem is an important mediating factor in MI, influencing both development and maintenance of the psychopathological state. It is recognised that arts participation by people with MI can offer a range of therapeutic benefits and facilitate the process of recovery through community inclusion and stigma reduction. The "INcluir" project is based on the creation of artistic workshops for people with severe MI and is promoted by the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health of the District Hospital of Santarém. Materials and methods Application of the Rosenberg self-esteem scale (RSSS) and the AQ-9 stigma rating scale proposed by Corrigan in subjects prior to their integration into the art workshops and after their terminus and into a control group. Results There was a 23% improvement in the RSSS after attending workshops. Compared to the control group, the results of the group that attended the workshops showed a difference of improvement of 48% according to the RSSS; There were statistically significant improvements in 8 of the 9 domains evaluated with regard to stigma in MI in the group that attended the workshops. The group that attended the workshops obtained a 66% improvement in the evaluation of the MI stigma. Conclusions Participation in art projects allows individuals with MI to be seen beyond their diagnosis, contributing positively to the reduction of stigma and to their increased self-esteem.engProject INcluiStigmaMental illnessconference object