Coping and support (2)
- Mental health: Overcoming the stigma of mental illness
- Intervention FAQ: Help loved ones overcome addiction and abuse
Definition (1)
- Mental health: What's normal, what's not
Tests and diagnosis (1)
- Mental health providers: Find one to suit your needs
Treatments and drugs (1)
- Types of mental health providers
Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Mental health: Overcoming the stigma of mental illness
Progress is being made to remove the stigma of mental illness and mental health disorders. You can take positive steps to combat stigma.
By Mayo Clinic staffStigma is a very real problem for people who have a mental illness. Based on stereotypes, stigma is a negative judgment based on a personal trait — in this case, having a mental health condition. It was once a common perception that having a mental illness was due to some kind of personal weakness. We now know that mental health disorders have a biological basis and can be treated like any other health condition. Even so, we still have a long way to go to overcome the many misconceptions, fears and biases people have about mental health, and the stigma these attitudes create.
Stigma may be obvious and direct, such someone making a negative remark about your mental health condition or your treatment. Or it can be subtle, such a someone assuming you could be violent or dangerous because you have a mental health condition. These and other forms of stigma can lead to feelings of anger, frustration, shame and low self-esteem — as well as discrimination at work, school and in other areas of your life. For someone with a mental illness, the consequences of stigma can be devastating. Some of the harmful effects of stigma include:
- Trying to pretend nothing is wrong
- Refusal to seek treatment
- Rejection by family and friends
- Work or school problems or discrimination
- Difficulty finding housing
- Being subjected to physical violence or harassment
- Inadequate health insurance coverage of mental illnesses
(1 of 2)
- Factsheet: Stigma: Building awareness and understanding. Mental Health America. http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/stigma. Accessed April 30, 2009.
- Before you label people, look at their contents. National Mental Health Information Center, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA96-3118/default.asp. Accessed April 30, 2009.
- Mak W, et al. Meta-analysis of stigma and mental health. Social Science & Medicine. 2007;65:245.
- Putnam S. Mental illness: diagnostic title or derogatory term? (Attitudes towards mental illness) Developing a learning resource for use within a clinical call centre. A systematic literature review on attitudes towards mental illness. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. 2008;15:684.
