Mental Health Stigma: Overcoming The Fear Of Being Stigmatized
Due to the efforts of mental health advocates and organizations, greater social media exposure, and the increased popularity of online therapy platforms—people are having more open conversations about mental health, and millions of US adults are going to therapy. Although mental health is becoming more widely recognized as an essential part of overall health, stigma persists as a barrier to seeking help. Below, look closer at mental health stigma, how this challenge might impact individuals with mental illness, and what you can do to reduce stigma.
What is mental health stigma?
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), "mental health stigma refers to negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes that people hold towards individuals experiencing mental health conditions.” Oftentimes, stigma can be societal, self-imposed, or structural, affecting people from all walks of life in every part of the world. Regardless of the source, stigma often perpetuates fear and avoidance of mental health treatment.
The effects of stigma on the individual
People experiencing stigma might fear judgment, rejection, or being labeled "weak." Such fears may prevent individuals from seeking professional treatment for mental health issues, delaying diagnosis and recovery. Other potential effects of mental health stigma on individuals include:
- Social isolation: A sense of being judged or misunderstood by others can lead to withdrawal from social activities and relationships, increasing loneliness.
- Low self-esteem: Internalizing negative stereotypes about mental illness can significantly damage self-worth and confidence.
- Increased stress and anxiety: The constant worry about being judged or discriminated against can exacerbate mental illness symptoms.
- Self-blame and guilt: Individuals may blame themselves for their mental illness, further contributing to distress.
- Difficulty in daily productivity: Stigma can lead to workplace challenges, including job insecurity, discrimination, and difficulty getting promotions.
The societal consequences of mental health stigma
Often, misconceptions about mental illness contribute to negative attitudes and stereotypes within the community. These stereotypes may create a perpetual cycle in which discrimination and misinformation cause people to avoid treatment for their mental illness—thereby worsening symptoms and deepening the stigma. On a broader level, this phenomenon can potentially cause a wide range of issues impacting all of society, including but not limited to the following:
- Economic troubles: Reduced workforce participation and other micro/macro-economic problems due to mental health issues can have significant financial consequences.
- Increased risk of physical violence: Stereotypes associating mental illness with physical violence can lead to fear and discrimination against individuals with mental health conditions like bipolar disorder, substance use disorder, schizophrenia, or borderline personality disorder.
- Discrimination in healthcare: Individuals with mental illness may face difficulties accessing quality healthcare due to prejudice from healthcare providers.
- Limited policy support: Stigma can hinder the development and implementation of supportive policies for people with mental illness.
- Reduced research funding: Negative perceptions of mental illness can lead to less funding for research into treatment and prevention strategies.
Benefits of treatment for people with mental illness
Therapy benefits range from the individual to the greater community. For example, mental illness treatment may help people feel better emotionally and psychologically. Treatment may also lead to fewer sick days, less disability, and fewer medical problems—factors that highly influence socioeconomic health.
Therapy may help people improve their relationships with others by teaching them how to communicate, resolve conflicts, and build trust. A therapist can potentially help people understand themselves and their motivations by providing a safe space to reflect on their thoughts and behaviors, which is particularly helpful to people who fear being stigmatized. Mental health professionals may also teach people coping skills to help them manage stress, emotional challenges, and psychological symptoms.
A mental health professional may help people understand their condition and how it's affecting their lives. With proper treatment, individuals can slow or prevent the development of more severe mental health issues in the future.
Tips for helping someone overcome their fear of being stigmatized
Everyone’s experience with mental illness is different, and attitudes are typically the result of a culmination of factors. If you or someone you know is facing mental health stigma, there are steps you can take that might challenge stigma to shift perceptions and reduce harmful effects, including the following.
Build trust
Building trust often begins with empathizing and validating the individual’s fears of stigmatization without dismissing them. Let them know they aren’t alone; stigma is one of the reasons why over half of people with mental health issues in the US don’t receive help. Create a safe space where a person can be comfortable discussing sensitive matters like stigma that they might not otherwise discuss with others.
Listen without pressure
Encourage people with mental illness to practice self-compassion and care
People facing stigma may have trouble with negative self-talk and judgment. Encourage them to challenge and reframe negative beliefs around mental illness and stigma. In addition, encourage them to care for themselves mentally and physically by managing stress, exercising regularly, sleeping well, and eating nutritious meals. These steps may help them build confidence in their ability to heal and growfrom their mental illness.
Research mental health services together
Learn about mental health conditions and how they’re treated together. Help them explore their options for therapists, support groups, or online resources. If they decide to try therapy, offer to support them in any way they need throughout the process. For example, you might drive them to their first appointment or get them a coffee to celebrate their first day of treatment.
Be patient and consistent
Change may take time—some people can recognize and reframe their thoughts about mental health stigma easily, while others may struggle at first. Try to support them without pressuring them. Let them know you're there when they need you, whether they choose to try therapy or not.
Challenging mental health stigma
Myths and misinformation about mental health challenges and mental illness treatment may fuel issues of stigmatization. Common false beliefs that might cultivate stigma include, but aren’t limited to:
- Therapy is only for people with severe mental illnesses
- Mental illness is a sign of weakness
- People struggling with mental illness can "get over it"
- People with mental illness can't recover
- Men shouldn’t go to therapy
- Talking about certain challenges and problems with a therapist is a waste of time
Regardless of where the myths originate, people may help others overcome mental illness stigma on a larger scale in their schools, communities, and workplaces. You might become involved with local organizations or advocacy groups—or take steps in your everyday life by educating yourself about mental health, normalizing mental illness, and modeling healthy attitudes.
Dispel myths about mental illness with education
To dispel myths, educate yourself about mental illness, therapy, and therapists to counter misconceptions. Share what you’ve learned with others. For example, some people are reluctant to see a therapist because they don’t understand discretion and professional ethics in therapy. If this is the case, let them know that, like medical doctors, therapists are bound by ethical guidelines to protect their patient’s boundaries and information.
Share evidence-based information with individuals who don't believe therapy can help them. Research shows that most people (about 75%) who undergo psychotherapy experience benefits like symptom relief and an improved quality of life. Depending on the specific mental illness, a combination of medication and therapy can be particularly effective, leading to significant symptom reduction in a large majority of patients.
Acknowledge and normalize mental illness
From celebrities to government figures to thought leaders, people from around the world are sharing their stories and experiences to reduce mental illness stigma. Open conversations can help others understand that mental health struggles are common, treatable, and nothing to feel shame over.
Role model healthy attitudes toward mental health
Voice your opinions and demonstrate openness about seeking help when needed. By speaking out and addressing mental illness stigma, you may help others see that mental health care is as valid as physical health care.
Encouraging people living with mental illness to seek mental health services
If you or someone you know has mental health problems but is still hesitant to actively seek therapy, begin with smaller steps. For example, suggest less intimidating entry points like self-help books, apps, anonymous online groups, or virtual therapy. Stay mindful of the resources you use—anonymous group therapy and other non-verified sources might not be suitable or helpful for some people. Look for a licensed mental health professional working with a reputable online therapy platform.
Online mental health services for people with a fear of mental health stigma
Studies suggest that online therapy may be suitable for people reluctant to seek treatment in several ways. For example, in an Irish study published by The Journal of Medical Internet Research, participants with mental health concerns reported ease of access, anonymity and convenience, inclusivity, and the ability to share experiences with others as among the most common benefits of online therapy.
Additionally, online therapy increased some participants' sense of control over the therapeutic process and encouraged treatment adherence. Research also shows that online therapy promotes earlier intervention, which can be critical for helping people reduce symptoms and minimize potential long-term impacts of mental health conditions. Through online platforms like BetterHelp, clients can receive care from home or any location with an internet connection via phone, video, or live chat. In addition, online therapy is often more cost-effective.
Takeaway
Is mental health stigma a fear?
Stigma itself is not fear but may arise from fear and can impact a person in a negative way. Stigma is a mark of societal shame and discrimination that has been placed on certain topics, identities, and ideas due to public misinformation, myths, and stereotypes that cause harmful effects. Mental health stigma refers to the negative way talking about mental health challenges and seeking treatment is viewed by the public, often leading to discrimination.
Often, mental illness is seen as a “personal weakness” due to stigma, and people with certain mental illnesses, especially substance use disorders, depression, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, and bipolar disorder, are often discriminated against and treated differently. The mental health stigma and discrimination surrounding seeking help or talking about mental health problems may lead to fewer opportunities for support and potential risks like suicide, self-harm, self-stigma, and relationship conflict. In reality, seeking support and talking openly to healthcare professionals about one’s personal experiences with mental health are brave and healthy actions.
How do you cope with stigmatization and the fear of being stigmatized?
Addressing stigma is often not easy, especially social stigma based on identity, cultural background, or mental health status. If you’re in a social group or have a cultural background where you might be ostracized in a negative way for speaking up about certain topics, you might feel lonely or scared about doing so, even if you need to for your well-being. In these cases, building a community with people who understand and respect you may be helpful, as well as considering anti-stigma interventions with a therapist with experience in treating issues related to public health stigma, specifically mental health.
What is being stigmatized?
When a person experiences social stigma and discrimination for their identity, actions, family, or cultural background (Including various African, Indigenous, European, Asian cultures, etc.), they are shamed by others in a group or on a societal level, often when they’ve done nothing wrong. For example, when family members tell a person they shouldn’t talk about mental health because doing so is “weak,” they are stigmatizing that person. With time, someone might start to participate in self-stigma, repeating the messages they heard from their family or loved ones to themselves and neglecting real help, even if they are no longer in a situation where others have control over them. Internalized stigma is often painful, causing someone to bottle up emotions and thoughts, refuse help from others, and create fewer opportunities for healing and growth.
What is the root cause of stigma?
The root cause of social stigma is societal stereotyping, groupthink, discrimination, and bias. When a group of people believe that a certain idea is correct, even if it hurts others and causes shame, it often takes one or a few people to challenge stigma and stand up against the crowd to say something isn’t right. Prominent people in society can often have a bigger influence, including celebrities. However, anyone may stand up against, reduce stigma, and be honest about their identity and personal experiences to make the world a better place. Even impacting just one person positively can make a positive impact in the world, as that person may also be inspired to challenge stigma the next time they encounter a similar situation.
When someone doesn't seek health services because they fear being stigmatized, what can you do?
One way to help a person be more comfortable seeking help is by opening up to them about a personal challenge with a similar or the same topic. For example, if they are afraid to ask for help from a therapist because they believe therapy makes a person weak, you might talk to them about how you’ve been to therapy and how it has helped you. You may also show them statistics from a randomized controlled trial and psychiatric research by healthcare professionals on the importance of destigmatizing mental health.
Some people who want to seek treatment lack the knowledge of other options that may be more discreet or struggle to adequately cover the costs of therapy. In these cases, online therapy may be helpful, as they can sign up anonymously and pay a lesser fee. You may recommend these resources to them when talking.
Can stigma cause trauma?
Stigma and discrimination may cause trauma for some people, especially when it is intertwined with their core identity and impacts them in a negative way. For example, the stigma and discrimination surrounding being open about being LGBTQ+ may lead a person in this community to hide their identity their whole life, which can be significantly traumatic, especially if it leads to social disconnect (including from family), loneliness, or being in a relationship they don’t want to be in.
Why is stigma harmful?
Stigma is harmful because it dissuades people from being honest and open. Shame is the opposite of openness, so people who are shamed for being themselves or asking for help may be likely to hide their true needs. When people bottle up emotions, studies show that they may face health consequences. When people fight stigma, they may be open about how they feel, honest about their situation or identity, promote help-seeking, inspire others who are scared to be open, and reduce stigma.
How do you stop stigma?
Stopping stigma starts with you. Take small steps by being open when you are safe, being honest with your family and loved ones, and surrounding yourself with people who respect your identity and mental health needs. If you’re unsure where to look, you might find support from a local mental health group, a support group, or a club for people with your identity type.
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