The Stigma of Mental Illness

Many people with mental illness say that the stigma that surrounds mental illness is harder to live with than the disease itself. Stigma refers to “a cluster of negative attitudes and beliefs that motivate the general public to fear, reject, avoid and discriminate against people with mental illness. Stigma is not just a matter of using the wrong word or action. Stigma is about disrespect. It is the use of negative labels to identify a person living with mental illness. Stigma is a barrier. Fear of stigma and the resulting discrimination discourages individuals and their families from getting the help they need.” (SAMHSA, 2004) In the United States, the Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health (1999) cites studies showing that nearly two-thirds of all people with mental disorders do not seek treatment. While the reasons for this are varied, we know that stigma is a significant barrier that discourages people from seeking treatment. The activities in this section will explore the nature of stigma, its impact on the lives of people with mental illness, and some ways of combating stigma.

Learning Objectives

In this module students will:

• Appreciate stigma surrounding mental illness, and the impact of stigma on

help-seeking behaviour

• Explore the differences between the myths and realities of mental illness

• Investigate the attitudes of people in the community about mental illness

• Learn about some ways of overcoming stigma and promoting a realistic

understanding of mental illness