The Challenges Of Overcoming Family Stigmas About Mental Health

Although there has been a lot of focus on overcoming the stigma of mental health in recent years, research shows that while the public may be more accepting of the genetic or medical nature of mental health disorders, many people still have negative views of those with mental illness. These stigmas can show up anywhere, including within families.

Overcoming family stigmas about mental health can be challenging, but it is possible. To do so, it can help first to understand where these stigmas come from and how they can affect caregivers and other family members.

Stigma can affect families in many ways

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The effects of stigma on the family affected by mental illness

Research shows that families and caregivers of people with mental illness can be significantly impacted by their loved ones’ conditions. Having a close family member with a mental illness can have negative effects on a person’s work, social functioning, physical health, psychological wellness, and overall family functioning. One common source of this distress tends to be stigma. 

Stigma and distress

Family members of people with mental illness may face many stigmas. Some of the prejudice and stereotypes may include that they are to blame for their relative’s mental health challenges or that they must have mental disorders if their family member does. These types of stigma can have many consequences, including loss of support from friends and other family members, a tendency to hide the family member’s diagnosis from others, or feelings of shame or guilt.

Family stigma and its impact

In one study, researchers examined how often family members of adults with mental illness experienced thoughts related to stigma. Participants were asked to rate how often in the past month they thought about things like covering up their relative’s mental health disorder, feeling unable to have visitors to the home, or wondering how to explain the relative’s illness to other people.

The percentage of family members who reported thinking about these stigma-related experiences at least “sometimes” was between 26.5% and 60%; the percentage of those who thought about these experiences “often” or “nearly always” ranged between 9.8% and 27.7%. Researchers stated that, despite all of the stressors that family members and caregivers could have occupying their minds, they were not only still thinking about stigma, but these thoughts were associated with distress. 

Stigma by association

One study published in 2023 found that people who have family members with mental illness may face stigma by association or a sense of public shame for their family member’s mental health condition. The study found that one in three family members surveyed reported experiencing stigma by association. Participants also reported moderate levels of loneliness, and those living with a relative who had a mental illness felt that they lacked support from family members and friends. 

Every family member is different, but those who spend a lot of time worrying about things like covering up their relative’s illness or feeling like they can’t have visitors to their home may be harboring stigmas of their own. These stigmas may affect how they feel about the people in their families who experience mental health problems.

Family functioning and stigma

Some family characteristics may help foster a destigmatizing environment. In some studies, researchers use the general family functioning scale, which assesses overall family wellness and characteristics that may provide an environment that encourages openness and reassurance while discouraging secrecy and shame. Statements on this scale include “In time of crisis, we can turn to each other for support” and “We feel accepted for what we are.” 

Strategies for reducing family stigma

The following are some strategies that may improve family functioning, which may, in turn, help reduce stigma about mental health in the family unit:

• Practicing active listening
• Forgiving past conflicts
• Celebrating the uniqueness of everyone in the family and not comparing family members to one another
• Showing affection to one another
• Setting boundaries

Challenges of overcoming family stigmas

Family relationships can be complex, and some families may not be able to overcome their challenges alone. In these cases, working with a therapist may help. While it may be challenging to get the entire family to attend therapy sessions together, working with a mental health professional one-on-one may help individual family members learn to cope with their own challenges, which can improve relationships and help change patterns for the family unit. 

How to fight stigma in mental health care

Reducing stigma around mental health can be challenging, whether it’s public stigma or stigma from within the family. Below are some anti-stigma interventions that can be effective.

Ways to fight stigma

• Educate yourself and others. If you have a family member with a mental illness, it may help to learn as much as you can about it and make an effort to inform others. Education against mental health stigma uses factual information to correct misinformation or contradict negative beliefs. You can adapt this information to any scale, whether you’re trying to educate a community or a small group of family members.
• Encourage appropriate mental health care. The stigma surrounding mental illness can cause people to delay seeking treatment. However, early diagnosis and treatment may lead to better outcomes. Encouraging individuals and families to seek professional help and supporting them through the process can help.
• Become an advocate. There are many ways to advocate for a loved one with a mental illness. You can attend protests to encourage more mental health resources, campaign for political candidates who support policies that benefit those with mental illnesses, or offer to go with your loved one to doctor’s appointments to make sure they’re getting appropriate care.
• Talk openly about mental health. It may help to discuss your own mental health concerns, encourage others to be respectful, and challenge misconceptions and stereotypes. You might speak of mental health conditions like bipolar disorder or substance use disorders in the same terms as physical health conditions to encourage others to take mental health more seriously.

If you are struggling with substance use, contact the SAMHSA National Helpline at (800) 662-4357 to receive support and resources. Support is available 24/7.

Stigma can affect families in many ways

Get support in online therapy

The benefits of therapy and challenges of overcoming family stigmas

While there may be many causes of family stigmas about mental health, it may be harder for some families to overcome them than others. Some families are skilled in creating a safe environment where people are accepted and encouraged to be themselves, while others may experience difficulty. If stigmas about mental health are rooted in the family dynamic, it may be difficult for the family to overcome on their own. 

Whether you have a mental health condition or you have a family member experiencing mental health challenges, therapy may help. Working with a therapist one-on-one may help you learn how to manage conflict that may arise and gain the confidence and skills to fight stigma.

Benefits of online therapy for mental health care

If stigma makes it challenging to seek therapy in person, you might consider online therapy. With online therapy, you can attend sessions from the comfort of your home at a time that suits your schedule. Also, you can switch providers at any time for no additional charge until you find the right fit. 

Effectiveness of online therapy for people with mental illness

In addition to being flexible and convenient, research shows that online therapy is also effective. One review of 14 studies found that online cognitive-behavioral therapy led to a 50% improvement in symptoms of multiple mental health conditions, including depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder.