Stigma

Stigma refers to a negative attitude or belief that is held by an individual or group towards individuals who have a particular characteristic, such as a mental illness. Stigma can be expressed through actions, such as discrimination or exclusion, or through attitudes and beliefs, such as stereotypes or misunderstandings. The impact of stigma on individuals with mental illness can be profound, leading to reduced access to care, discrimination, and increased feelings of shame and hopelessness.

Stigma often comes from misunderstanding, fear, or misrepresentation which may lead to mental illnesses. A literature review by Masuda et al. (2012) found that stigma, discrimination, and prejudice is the most crucial social concern because even the general public accepts or practice discrimination. This triggers the need for the treatment and care of physical and mental health disorders. A study by Parker, (2012) identified several types of stigma which are described below:

Social stigma:

This includes discriminatory behaviour or negative attitudes of other people towards mental illness.

Self-stigma:

It refers to the negative behaviour of mental health patients regarding their physical or mental health conditions (Weick, 2015).

Institutional stigma:

It is more systemic and involves private and government regulations and policies that limit opportunities for people with mental illness either intentionally or unintentionally. This can be evident in the lack of a financial budget for mental health prevention and treatment strategies or a lack of mental health services compared to other types of care (Marsella & White, 2012). 

Prejudice

Prejudice refers to an attitude or belief that is formed without adequate information or knowledge about a particular group of people. In the context of mental illness, prejudice refers to negative attitudes and beliefs that are held towards individuals with mental health conditions. Prejudice can be expressed through actions, such as discriminatory behaviour, or through attitudes and beliefs, such as stereotypes or misconceptions. Like stigma, prejudice can have a negative impact on individuals with mental illness and can contribute to a lack of understanding and support.

Stigma and prejudice directly affect the patients with mental illnesses along with their families and loved ones who help them. This is why Masuda et al. (2012) further explained that prejudice can be a major barrier for mental health patients and families to seek or access mental health services being members of a diversified culture. This is because seeking psychiatric help for mental illnesses may conflict with their cultural, ethnic or family values which may be important for emotional containment and avoiding embarrassment.

Stereotypes and prejudices perceive that people with mental illnesses are dangerous, incompetent and guilty of erratic and unpredictable behaviour. Moreover, as a result of discrimination, employers cannot hire them, the landlord cannot rent, and the healthcare system cannot provide high-quality standards of care (Schwab, 2013). Stigma and discrimination can exacerbate symptoms and limit access to care. A systematic review by Weick (2015) found that stigmatization can negatively impact recovery among mental health patients. This is because discrimination and prejudice trigger a loss of hope, low self-esteem, greater psychiatric symptoms, problematic social relationships, lack of willingness to continue treatment, and increased difficulty in working.

References:

(1) Marsella, A. J., & White, G. (2012). Cultural conceptions of mental health and therapy (Vol. 4). Springer Science & Business Media.

(2) Masuda, A., Hill, M. L., Morgan, J., & Cohen, L. L. (2012). A psychological flexibility-based intervention for modulating the impact of stigma and prejudice: A descriptive review of empirical evidence.

(3) Parker, R. (2012). Stigma, prejudice and discrimination in global public health. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 28(1), 164-169.

(4) Schwab, J. (2013). Sociocultural roots of mental illness: An epidemiologic survey. Springer Science & Business Media.

(5) Weick, K. E. (2015). The social psychology of organizing. Management, 18(2), 189