MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA

WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA? Cognitively/Emotionally: Negative beliefs and emotional reactions toward those with a mental illness Behaviorally: Unjust treatment (e.g., avoidance, discrimination) of those with a mental illness Stigma is more common for mental illnesses than physical diseases (Ben-Porath, 2002)

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT What are some common stigmatizing beliefs and attitudes toward those with mental illnesses? What societal barriers impact the lives of those with mental illnesses?

SOME COMMON BELIEFS People with mental illness are: Dangerous Unpredictable Difficult to talk to Less trustworthy Less intelligent Less competent (Link & Phelan, 2006)

BARRIERS DUE TO STIGMA Institutional Stigma: Child custody – health insurance – holding office Public Stigma: Dating – making friends – getting hired Self-Stigma: Not seeking help – fearing judgment – staying isolated How do these barriers perpetuate the cycle of mental illness?

A FEW FACTS 1 in 4 US adults experience a mental health condition in a given year Likelihood is, someone you know has a mental illness. 50% of people in US will, in their lifetime, experience a mental illness If you stigmatize others with mental illness, you’re likely to be psychologically distressed yourself – putting your own well-being at risk. (Masuda et al., 2009)

WHAT TO DO?