Stigma reduction through group counselling of persons affected by leprosy--a pilot study.

Stigmatization of persons with leprosy causes the emotional harm of social, economic and spiritual deprivation. Individual counselling has benefits in addressing these psychosocial problems but is a slow process and effects few people at any one time. Our experience of group counselling of stigmatized persons achieved the following: addressing common issues to more than one person at a time, encouraging the unity of sufferers, developing compassion for others, understanding the common effects of stigmatization, and beginning to overcome its harmful effects.