Changing the Stigma Surrounding Mental Health
Mental health and stigma are words that are often used together, though there is hope for a future where that is not the case. The stigma surrounding mental health is insidious, embedded on many levels and can have harmful consequences. This post hopes to explore the topic of mental health stigma in hopes of inspiring everyone to do their part to help break this stigma, which can only be done if we all work together.
What is Mental Health Sigma?
Mental health stigma is the collection of negative attitudes, beliefs, and discriminatory actions aimed at individuals who have mental health conditions. Within this context we need to consider the prejudices, stereotypes, and social exclusions that can deeply impact individuals. There is another aspect to mental health stigma not discussed in the definition above. Remember that mental health stigma also includes our attitudes, beliefs, and actions towards taking care of mental health in general. The manifestation of mental health stigma can vary between cultures due to factors such as the individual, family, healthcare providers, societal, religious beliefs, and social attitudes (Ahad et al., 2023).
The stigma surrounding mental health is embedded in our societal norms and is considered a multifaceted issue that leads to individuals delaying getting help, increasing morbidity, and diminishing an individual's quality of life (Ahad et al., 2023). There are key words in the above sentence - multifaceted and embedded in societal norms. These key words are essential concepts to consider because it means whatever approach we take to change the narrative about mental health, it must be multipronged and work on addressing the systems that we live in.
Consequences of Mental Health Stigma
When we consider the consequences of mental health stigma there are many levels we must consider. Some of these levels are listed in the above section. For this post, we will consider the family, and societal levels to get the conversation started. At the societal level, mental health stigma can lead to the underfunding of mental health services in addition to them being overlooked all together (Ahad et al., 2023). At the family level, we see the potential for shame and isolation, which may lead to an increase in difficulty in finding help and support (Ahad et al., 2023). These are two examples of the consequences of mental health stigma at different levels. Though, it may also help to consider not just the levels of isolation, but also the potential interactions and compounding nature between the different levels. Then things can become even more challenging. One helpful reminder that comes to mind at this point is remembering that the statistics that we see and the data about mental health represent actual people. They are not merely numbers. We need to touch our own humanity and connect on that level. Remember humans are social creatures, and we need each other, even those we do not see.
Culture and Gender
Another aspect worth highlighting when discussing mental health is stigma is that of sociocultural factors. This topic is expansive and could benefit from its own blog post. With that said, if this topic interests you there are some great research articles out there that talk about this topic specifically. Let’s begin with gender. The experiences individuals have related to mental health/illness are different whether one identifies as a man or woman, which can then be further influenced by culture (Ahad et al., 2023). So again we come back to the intersection of and compounding nature of mental health stigma. When looking at culture, we zoom out to the societal level and look at cultural perceptions and beliefs; and they have the potential, depending on the culture, to open the door to distinct forms of discrimination and social exclusion (Ahad et al., 2023).
Types of Stigma
Now that we have a foundational understanding of mental health stigma, let’s identify the different types of stigma as broken down by the American Psychiatric Association (2024).
Public Stigma: Encompasses the negative or discriminatory attitudes that other people have about mental health/illness.
Self-Stigma: The negative internalized attitudes and shame that people who have a mental health diagnosis have about their diagnosis.
Structural Stigma: A systemic type of stigma that is integrated into organizational and governmental policies that intentionally or unintentionally narrow the opportunities for individuals with a mental health diagnosis.
The work of changing the stigma around mental health needs to address not only all the levels, but also the different types of stigma. This sounds like a big task! It is a big task. There is no sugar coating the amount of work ahead of us. While it is a big task, it is doable if we all do our part! We can make a difference one action at a time. Each time we each do something to break the stigma we are making a difference. Do let anyone tell you that you are only one person and your actions don’t matter. They do matter! And together with each of us working together things can and will change. Hope always lives!
A person with long brown hair holding open a black jacket to show a shirt that says mental health matters.
take action today moment:
Take a moment to reflect on what you believe about mental health/illness. What did you learn from your family of origin? What did you learn from the different cultures and environments around you? What did you internalize without questioning? Begin by addressing any of your own biases about mental health. It is a great place to start. You can also be an advocate, if you are safe to do so, and use your voice and speak up when you hear someone perpetuating myths about mental health/illness. Your voice matters!
Learn More About Stigma and Mental Health:
Six physicians tell their stories to combat mental health stigma [YouTube Video]
Chris Hubbard: Tackling Mental Health Stigma
The overwhelming case for ending stigma and discrimination in mental health
References
Ahad, A. A., Sanchez-Gonzalez, M., & Junquera, P. (2023). Understanding and addressing mental health stigma across cultures for improving psychiatric care: A narrative review. Cureus, 15(5), e39549. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.39549
American Psychiatric Association. (2024). Stigma, prejudice and discrimination against people with mental illness. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/stigma-and-discrimination