Mental Health Stigma: Examples of Everyday Discrimination

Thus, is has been argued that the professional expertise that mental health professionals have in providing mental health services may be insufficient in impacting the social spheres in which stigma operate, and it may be timely for them to move to a supporting role 30. Taken together, these studies highlight the importance of understanding cultural contexts when addressing the stigma surrounding mental health disorders and psychiatric care. The cultural beliefs and attitudes towards mental health disorders, summarized below in Table ​Table1,1, influence how stigma is manifested and the approaches needed to reduce it effectively.

It can prevent people living with mental illness from getting help, fitting into society, and leading happy and comfortable lives. The participants opined that it would be beneficial for those without mental illnesses to have opportunities for direct social contact with PWLE. They identified the benefits of this strategy as allowing people to relate to PWLE on a more personal level and debunk extreme examples of mental illness. They added that such a first-hand experience would be more compelling than didactic approaches. They included (1) raising mental health awareness, (2) social contact, (3) advocacy by influential figures or groups, and (4) legislation of anti-discriminatory laws. It was not uncommon for participants to refer to two or more approaches in a single quote.

Medical Professionals

Hence, better understanding the impact of stigma across different cultural contexts is critically essential, aiming to inform culturally nuanced strategies to minimize its consequences and contribute to a more equitable and effective psychiatric care system. The review covers a range of countries and cultural settings, emphasizing the importance of understanding cultural nuances to combat stigma and promote mental health awareness globally. Several sociodemographic and attitudinal factors influenced the public’s endorsement of forced treatments for children with ADHD and depression whats in whippits (Pescosolido et al. 2007a).

Research and Practice Implications to Reduce Public Stigma

The participants also recommended disseminating information on where and how mental illness can be managed as well as the efficacy of treatments to emphasise the treatability of mental illnesses. Mental illnesses in some African cultures are often attributed to spiritual or supernatural causes such as curses or possession by evil spirits. This understanding can contribute to high levels of stigma and deter individuals from seeking psychiatric help 19. In Ethiopia, the belief in supernatural causes of mental illness has been reported, leading to the stigmatization of affected individuals 17. Studies also explored individuals’ beliefs about shame, blame, and punishment of individuals with mental illness.

1. A meta-analysis by Corrigan et al. (2016) found that various evidence-based interventions, including education and contact-based interventions, can effectively reduce mental illness stigma across cultures 9.
2. Anti-stigma programmes were traditionally conducted by or in substantial consultation with groups representing psychiatric expertise 25.
3. And some people may experience increased symptoms of their condition, or even develop new ones — like anxiety or depression — because of experiencing stigma.
4. Stigmatizing attitudes towards mental illness contribute to the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and misinformation.
5. Some cultures have an inbuilt stigma against mental health issues and this can make it difficult for a person to seek and get help.
6. Intersectionality refers to how someone’s intersecting identities — such as race, gender, sexuality, or class — contribute to their own unique experience with discrimination and oppression.

While we have selected quotes to illustrate the main theme, they may cross-cover other themes to some degree. To ensure that standard usage of English was maintained, minimally corrected verbatim of quotes are presented. Religious belief perpetuating mental health stigma can lead to delayed or avoided treatment as individuals may resort to religious or spiritual interventions 20. Mental health stigma plays a significant role in the lives of people with mental health conditions — from the way that they’re treated to the way they feel about themselves. Use your words and your actions to promote inclusivity and acceptance of people with mental health conditions.

Public Stigma of Mental Illness in the United States: A Systematic Literature Review

Keep reading to explore mental health stigma, its effects, and what people can do to overcome them. 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. PWLE recruitment was limited to two types of psychiatric diagnoses, mood and psychotic disorders, to attain a more homogenous account of encounters with stigma. The groups were also separated by diagnosis to facilitate the identification of members in a group with each other and to provide comfort when expressing themselves. In all, six Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were conducted with PWLE between March to May 2018 (three with individuals with mood disorders, three with those with psychosis-related disorders).

By acknowledging cultural variations, more culturally appropriate and effective strategies can be developed to combat stigma and improve mental health care across different societies worldwide. The participants in the study commented that mental health awareness has increased in stephanie thurrott Singapore in the past couple of years, but these advancements have not caught on as quickly, particularly in workplaces. A significant proportion of PWLE remain unemployed despite their desire and ability to work 64.

Charitable Care & Financial Assistance

Anti-stigma interventions should normalize the experience of mental illness and target perceptions that people with mental illness are dangerous. Such interventions can be integrated into school-based curriculum and target sociodemographic groups (e.g., men, those with fewer years of education) that consistently endorse negative views of people with mental illness. While research remains limited, anti-stigma interventions in U.S. high schools have been shown to improve attitudes towards mental health treatment and increase mental health literacy (Jorm and Griffiths 2008). Media (e.g., TV, radio, internet, fun addiction group activities video games, smart phones) play a central role in the lives of many individuals and have the potential to perpetuate stigmatizing beliefs toward mental illness (Klin 2008). However, media can also serve as a powerful tool to deliver anti-stigma messages and promote help-seeking behaviors (Ritterfield and Jin 2006). For example, internet-based interventions to increase mental health literacy have shown some impact (Jorm and Griffiths 2008).