With a growing number of people experiencing a decline in their mental health, society is becoming better equipped to respond to our needs. However, the stigma around mental illness and seeking help remains.
According to the
More than 50% of U.S. adults will need mental health treatment at some point during their lifetime. In addition, 1 in 25 are currently living with a serious mental illness, such as an eating disorder, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or major depression.
A national survey estimates that
Given how common it is for people to experience a decline in mental health, the level of stigma that exists in society is surprising and often contradictory.
For example, one survey concluded that the majority of people in the U.S. believe in supporting those living with mental illness, so they can live normal lives with others who could help them recover.
The respondents stated they do not support the idea of keeping those with a mental health condition out of society. The survey also suggests that generally, people do not believe that those living with mental illness are excessively dangerous or prone to violence.
However, two-thirds of the survey respondents believed there was still a lot of stigma attached to mental illness, while almost half said they would not welcome a mental health facility into their neighborhood.
Keep reading to explore mental health stigma, its effects, and what people can do to overcome them.
Stigmas in society are commonplace. They can be difficult to dismantle and overcome once they become established over many years.
A stigma is a negative and often unfair social attitude attached to a person or group, often placing shame on them for a perceived deficiency or difference to their existence.
Individuals or groups can apply stigma to those who live a certain way, have certain cultural beliefs or make lifestyle choices, or to people living with health conditions, such as mental illnesses.
Mental health
The pressure of mental health stigma can come from family, friends, coworkers, and society on a broader level. Groups can also politicize stigma. It can prevent people living with mental illness from getting help, fitting into society, and leading happy and comfortable lives.
Mental health stigma can come from stereotypes, which are simplified or generalized beliefs or representations of entire groups of people that are often inaccurate, negative, and offensive. They allow a person to make quick judgments about others based on a few defining characteristics, which they then apply to anyone in that group.
For instance, people living with depression are often stereotyped as lazy, while some judge those with anxiety as cowardly.
Many people fear being labeled “crazy” for simply seeking support from a therapist. None of these characterizations are valid, and all of them are misinformed, cause pain, and prevent people from getting the help they need.
An often
Stigma against mental illness can come from several sources, such as personal, social, and family beliefs, and from the mental health condition itself, which may cause a person to act outside what is considered the social or cultural norm.
A lack of awareness, education, perception, and a fear of people with mental illness can all lead to increased stigma.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, nearly 9 out of 10 people with a mental illness feel stigma and discrimination negatively impact their lives. They also state that those with a mental health issue are among the least likely of any group with a long-term health condition or disability to find work, be in long-term relationships, live in good housing, and be socially included in mainstream society.
Stigma against a person living with a mental health condition can make their symptoms worse and make it hard to recover. A person may also be less likely to seek help if they live with stigma.
Stigma may not be obvious or be expressed in large gestures. It can come in the words people use to describe a mental health condition or people living with mental illness. This can involve hurtful, offensive, or dismissive language, which can be upsetting for people to hear. This can cause them to feel alone and that no-one understands what they are going through.
The effects of stigma can include:
- internalization of negative beliefs
- social isolation
- low self-esteem
- hopelessness
- shame
- avoiding treatment
- worsening symptoms
- lack of criminal justice
- discrimination at work
- unemployment
Public education to increase knowledge around mental illness is paramount, since the majority of stigma comes from a lack of understanding and misplaced fear.
It is important to review reliable sources of information on mental health conditions and become better informed when learning that a friend, family member, or coworker is living with a mental illness.
At the individual level, a person with a mental health illness can get actively involved in their treatment. They could also consider getting an advocate if they feel that stigma impacts their ability to navigate day-to-day circumstances, such as employment, housing, or healthcare.
An advocate is a trained professional who helps people work through employment disputes, medical appointments, financial claims and appointments, and housing problems. They support the rights of others who may not have the strength or knowledge to do so on their own.
Stigma is a complex issue that is well-documented but challenging to overcome.
However, there are steps that a person facing mental health stigma can take, such as finding an advocate who can support them with work issues and financial matters. They can also educate others by sharing their stories to promote a wider understanding of mental health conditions.
Importantly, everyone has a role in diffusing mental health stigma. People should educate themselves about mental health issues, and better comprehend what life is like for those living with these conditions. By doing so, they can help dispel commonly held myths and stereotypes both in themselves and others.
Through education and understanding, we can eliminate the stigma around mental illness, and there is support available to people who are currently experiencing stigma.