To understand the notion of mental health stigma, we have to look at two categories of stigma first.
There is public stigma, which happens when society reinforces negative stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. This creates a separation between “us” and “them”. Public stigma can be shown through discrimination in interactions, and stereotyping or showing negative images of mental illness in the media, or through structural discrimination, such as restricted opportunities through private or public institutions.
The other type of stigma is self-stigma. Self-stigma is what happens when people who belong to a stigmatized group turn the stigmatizing behavior towards themselves. This is basically self-discrimination and can look like having pessimistic expectations, low self-esteem, low self-efficacy, not pursuing opportunities, or feelings negative emotions towards oneself.
Why does mental illness lead to stigma?
“Being different” would be an easy answer but not all differences lead to stigma.
Studies found that the following aspects lead to more social distance, which is a big aspect of stigma:
The perception that the individual is responsible for the mental illness leads to negative emotions, which lead to low sympathy towards that person, which in turn leads to more avoidance and/or punishment
The perceived dangerousness of the person leads to more rejection
The degree to which the mental illness is perceived as uncommon also contributes to more social distance. It is unclear why rarity leads to rejection, but one theory is that people believe that rare conditions are more severe.
Mental illnesses manageable through psychotherapy lead to more stigma than those manageable with medication because biological causes lead to less stigma that psychological causes.
It is important to note that those aspects don’t have to be objectively true for a specific mental illness. Only the perception of the person evaluating the mental illness of another person counts in this mechanism.
So, what can we do to destigmatize mental illnesses?
One crucial thing needed for real change, is policy change and a change in the stigmatizing beliefs and behaviors of power groups, because stigmatizing groups will always find new ways to stigmatize. However, there are still some ways you can contribute to destigmatizing mental illnesses.
If you are a mental health professional, you can:
Address stigma during your sessions with clients or patients
Address the aspects of perceived responsibility, dangerousness, and rarity to decrease internalized sigma
Rectify false perceptions of mental illness through psycho education
Everyone else can and should:
Read well researched information about mental illnesses
Ask questions before jumping to conclusions
Ask the concerned person about their mental illness
Cultivate kindness and empathy
“The humanity we all share is more important than the mental illnesses we may not” - Elyn R. Saks
Have you ever experienced public or self-stigma? Or stigmatized someone else because of their mental illness? Feel free to share your opinion or experience around this subject in the comments. If you suffer from stigma around your mental illness or would like to challenge your beliefs around mental illnesses, you can book a session with me by clicking on the button below.
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