The stigma surrounding psychiatry, as research suggests, manifests differently across cultures due to various factors 7. This stigma operates at various levels, including individuals, families, healthcare providers, and society, and cultural norms, religious beliefs, and social attitudes influence its manifestations and implications. Stigma significantly impacts people with mental health issues by fostering feelings of shame and embarrassment, which can deter them from seeking help and contribute to social isolation and discrimination.

How does stigma impact people with mental health issues?

Approximately 50% of people will be diagnosed with a mental health condition at some point in their lifetime. Even if half of a family experiences a mental health disorder, the whole family feels its impacts. Prejudice and misinformation can in turn lead to discrimination, both at the interpersonal level (public stigma) and in laws and policies (structural stigma). Stigma has also been cited as a reason that mental health services receive less funding and are considered less prestigious than other health services in many countries.

Stigma is defined as any quality or trait that causes someone to be devalued, tarnished, shamed, or discredited. Nowhere in a community or culture do mentally ill people have the same societal value, acceptance, indulgence, and inclusiveness as people without a mental illness 3. By understanding and addressing mental health stigma, we can build a more compassionate and supportive world for everyone. From educational webinars to story submissions, people are turning to social media and their social circles to help debunk long-standing false impressions of mental health. They may not want to publicly discuss difficulties at home, work, or within the family.

Learn to accept your condition, look for support, and help teach others about your condition. 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. Organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Mental Health America (MHA) provide educational materials, support groups, and advocacy opportunities to raise awareness and reduce stigma. The World Health Organization (WHO) also offers global resources and guidelines for addressing mental health stigma.

How we reviewed this article:

• First- and second-generation immigrants often experience challenges with combining their former and new cultures they’ve lived in.
• For example, it can be unacceptable to talk about one’s mental health issues, even within the family.
• 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 co-worker has a mental illness.
• Furthermore, there is a need for establishing community-based mental health services that are recovery-oriented and public-centered to involve patients and their families in discussions.

One of the fundamental problems contributing to mental health stigma is ignorance and misinformation. Many people fail to recognize that mental health problems are legitimate health concerns, deserving the same level of attention and care as physical ailments. This lack of understanding can lead to harmful stereotypes, such as the belief that mental health issues are a sign of personal weakness or moral failing.

However, people may be able to overcome it by finding an advocate to 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. 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 co-worker has a mental illness. A common and often politicized stereotype about people with mental illness is that they are violent or dangerous. Misleading media portrayals and a misunderstanding and oversimplification of criminal behavior and mental health may contribute to this belief. Individuals or groups can apply stigma to those who live a certain way, have certain cultural beliefs, make certain lifestyle choices, or to people living with health conditions, such as mental illnesses.

Table 1. A Cultural Comparison on Mental Health Perception and Stigma.

Addressing mental health stigma in everyday life begins with challenging negative attitudes and comments. Hearing derogatory remarks or misinformation about mental health calls for speaking up to correct these misconceptions. Addressing stigma directly helps create a supportive and inclusive environment for those affected. Mental health stigma is a negative attitude or idea about a mental health feature of a person or group of people. It relates to social disapproval of the person or group based on the mental health feature. However, there are several alternate ways that could be gathered and implemented to reduce stigma in mental health.

Mental Health Stigma

This can cause someone to feel alone and that no one understands what they are going through. Discrimination may be obvious and direct, such as someone making a negative comment about your mental health condition or treatment. For example, someone might avoid you because the person assumes you aren’t stable, or even that you could be violent or dangerous, due to your mental health condition.

Unlike physical illnesses, mental health issues are frequently dismissed or misunderstood, which only serves to perpetuate the stigma. Social stigma, or public stigma, occurs when society or the general public shares negative thoughts or beliefs about a person or group of people. For example, a mental health social stigma may be an association between mental illness and danger or a belief that people with mental illness lose control and hurt others. Notably, few studies explore stigma among mental health professionals themselves and its impact on patient care 9. There is also a lack of culturally tailored interventions, limiting effectiveness in non-Western settings. Furthermore, the long-term effectiveness of anti-stigma programs remains under-evaluated.

The Dangers of Stigmatizing Mental Health

Mental health stigma is often manifested through derogatory remarks such as “You’re crazy,” negative stereotypes about conditions like schizophrenia, and discrimination in workplaces and social settings. When a stigma Mental health stigma is applied to a larger group, certain generalizations may be made about everyone who shares the stigmatized characteristic. For instance, to stigmatize a person with mental illness as dangerous may lead to a stereotypical assumption that all people with mental illness are dangerous and should be avoided. A stigma is a negative attitude or perception of a person or group based on noticeable traits such as physical characteristics, particular behaviors, disabilities, or mental illness. Stigmas can trigger poor physical or emotional health, but there are ways that you can cope with and overcome these effects.

• Incorporating mental health topics into school curriculums can foster early awareness and reduce stigma among young people.
• What follows is not an exhaustive list that covers every community or every barrier they face, but rather, broad descriptions to show cultural patterns.
• This could involve calling out harmful language and providing a non-judgmental space for people to speak with you about mental health.
• For example, a stigma can be presented as a joke that not everyone recognizes as a negative view.
• Christine developed the Resilience Methodology, a trans-theoretical training model for therapists to provide individualized, flexible, trauma-informed care.

For example, saying “someone with bipolar disorder” instead of “a bipolar person” helps to recognize the person beyond their mental health diagnosis. This simple shift in language can have a significant impact on how we perceive and treat people with mental health conditions. Less stigma encourages people to seek timely help without fear of judgment, leading to better outcomes. A supportive and understanding environment enables those with mental health challenges to lead fulfilling and productive lives. The impact of mental health stigma on people with mental illness is profound and far-reaching.

Impact of Stigma on People with Mental Illness

Stigma, characterized by negative stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination, is a significant impediment in psychiatric care, deterring the timely provision of this care and hindering optimal health outcomes. Pervasive in all aspects of psychiatric care, stigma leads to delayed treatment, increased morbidity, and diminished quality of life for those with poor mental health. 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. Stigma surrounding mental health and psychiatric care is a complex and multifaceted issue that varies across ethnic and cultural contexts. To effectively address and reduce stigma in mental healthcare settings, developing culturally sensitive interventions and promoting understanding and acceptance of mental health issues is crucial.