Kerri: Hi my name is Kerri and I’m from the Pacific Hepatitis C Network and I’m here with Daryl for the next installment in our Hep C 101 video series and today we are going to be talking about stigma. So Daryl, how are people with hepatitis C affected by stigma?

Daryl: Well, I think that all people can be affected by stigma and I think stigma in in my view is akin to discrimination, and how people with hepatitis C are affected is quite profoundly generally. What we hear from people and know from my own experience is mostly we see stigma in places where health care is provided, which is unfortunate but it isn’t the only place in society people tend to judge others–that’s not a new thing you know it does go on. Because of the inextricable link to drug use and hepatitis C it just adds on, heaps on, even more of discrimination for people.

Kerri: So you mentioned health care settings are there other places or situations in which people might experience stigma when they have hepatitis C?

Daryl: Yeah, I’ve certainly seen it in in families even, firstly ,you know anecdotally, I can say that probably more than 90% of people never disclose their status beyond a very close family member or close friend and, and that’s because of more self-stigmatization and fear of being thought of as something less because they have Hep C.

And again it’s that connection with drug use and views that are held in society about drug use–as drug users being weak and and you know needing “fixing” or you know that sort of thing.

So, yeah it’s it’s felt in a lot of different ways and because people don’t disclose it unfortunately causes, again, more of that self-stigmatization.

And I see blaming I’ve heard people blaming themselves and feeling shameful about you know themselves and that’s never a positive thing and never helps people and doesn’t produce good outcomes over time for health–general health.

Kerri: so what steps should be or could be taken to help reduce the amount of stigma that people experience in a variety of situations?

Daryl: Well I think really stigma is something that needs to be addressed with education, primarily. I think that there are also other ways that that it can be addressed, and I recognize that it’s not going to happen overnight and there isn’t a magic, you know, solution or silver bullet that is going to see it end. We have to work on changing attitudes around drug use and, and because again that’s that’s at the core of where the stigma lives with hepatitis C. And you know we we have much work to do. Again, education I think informing students who are looking or are already engaged in education to go into healthcare, I think it’s important to talk about stigma and not just with Hep C I think that you know there are certainly other conditions where where stigma is present, it’s just very acute with hepatitis C.

Kerri: Is there anything else you think people need to know about stigma or how people are or may inadvertently stigmatize others?

Daryl: Well I would say that people should be aware if they are engaged in in in stigmatizing others, and and that I think we can all do a better job at not doing that, at being more inclusive and understanding and empathetic and you know I think that that goes a long way and just being more kind to each other and not being so quick to judge, especially when you really don’t understand the facts.

So I think really that’s, in the long run that’s really what’s going to change attitudes about how we treat other people.

Kerri: Alright thanks for sharing that information, Daryl. If you have other questions you can certainly reach out to us through our website at PacificHepC.org

Daryl: Or the helpline where you can call or text us at 1-888-411-7578.

Kerri: Thanks everyone, enjoy the rest of your day.

Daryl: Take care.