Mental health stigma can be divided into two distinct types: social stigma is characterized by prejudicial attitudes and discriminating behaviour directed towards individuals with mental health problems as a result of the psychiatric label they have been given. In contrast, perceived stigma or self-stigma is the internalizing by the mental health sufferer of their perceptions of discrimination (Link, Cullen, Struening & Shrout, 1989), and perceived stigma can significantly affect feelings of shame and lead to poorer treatment outcomes (Perlick, Rosenheck, Clarkin, Sirey et al., 2001).

1. STIGMA OF MENTAL HEALTH
GEETESH KUMAR SINGH
M.A. 3rd SEM(PSY)
DAVPG COLLEGE - VARANASI

2. What is stigma?
Origin
Greek;
A mark made by a pointed instrument, a dot.
• a mark of disgrace associated with a particular
circumstance, quality, or person. "the stigma of mental
disorder"
• Synonyms: shame, disgrace, dishonor, blemish
Medicine; a visible sign or characteristic of a disease.
A cluster of negative attitudes and beliefs that motivate
the general public to fear, reject, avoid and discriminate
against people with mental ill health. Stigma leads others
to avoid living, socializing, or working with, renting to, or
employing people with mental disorders -especially
severe disorders, such as schizophrenia, major depression,
anxiety etc.

3. Stigma brings experiences and feelings of:
• Shame
• Blame
• Hopelessness
• Distress
• Misrepresentation in the media
• Reluctance to seek and/or accept necessary
help

4. Types of Stigma
• Perceived stigma or Self-stigma is the
internalizing by the mental health sufferer of
their perceptions of discrimination and
perceived stigma can significantly affect
feelings of shame and lead to poorer
treatment outcomes.
• Social stigma is characterized by prejudicial
attitudes and discriminating behavior directed
towards individuals with mental health
problems as a result of the psychiatric label
they have been given.

5. Mental health myths and facts
• Myth: Mental health problems are very rare.
• Fact: 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year.
• Myth: People with mental illness aren’t able to work.
• Fact: We probably all work with someone experiencing a mental health problem.
• Myth: Young people just go through ups and downs as part of puberty, it’s
nothing.
• Fact: 1 in 10 young people will experience a mental health problem.
• Myth: People with mental health illnesses are usually violent and unpredictable.
• Fact: People with a mental illness are more likely to be a victim of violence.
• Myth: People with mental health problems don't experience discrimination
• Fact: 9 out of 10 people with mental health problems experience stigma and
discrimination.
• Myth: It’s easy for young people to talk to friends about their feelings.
• Fact: Nearly three in four young people fear the reactions of friends when they
talk about their mental health problems.

6. Facts!
61 percent of people with mental illness are
outside of labor force.
among people with major depression, 40 to 60
percent are unemployed.
20 to 35 percent with anxiety disorder are
without work.
80 to 90 percent of individual with schizophrenia
are unemployed.
Only 59.6% of individual with a mental illness-
including such conditions as anxiety, depression,
schizophrenia and bipolar disorder-reported
receiving treatment.

7. Who holds stigmatizing beliefs about
mental health problems
• Moses (2010) found that stigma directed at
adolescents with mental health problems came from
family members, peers, and teachers.
• 46% of these adolescents described experiencing
stigmatization by family members in the form of
unwarranted assumptions like distrust, avoidance, pity
and gossip( Moses 2010)
• 62% experienced stigma from peers which often led
to friendship losses and social rejection(Connolly,
Geller, Marton & Kutcher (1992) .
• 35% reported stigma perpetrated by teachers and
school staff, who expressed fear, dislike, avoidance, and
under-estimation of abilities (Wallace, 2010).

8. What factors cause stigma?
• Individual thoughts about ones health and lack of
knowlwge.
• Early beliefs about the causes of mental health
problems, such as demonic or spirit possession.
• Medical model implies that mental health problems
are on a par with physical illnesses and may result from
medical or physical dysfunction .
• Medical model implies diagnosis, and diagnosis implies
a label that is applied to a ‘patient’. That label may well
be associated with undesirable attributes( e.g. Mad,
Schizophrenic…etc)
• Media regularly play a role in perpetuating stigmatizing
stereotypes of people with mental health problems.

9. Why does stigma matter?
• Stigma embraces both prejudicial attitudes and
discriminating behavior towards individuals .
• Social effects of this include exclusion, poor social
support, poorer subjective quality of life, and
low self-esteem(Livingston & Boyd, 2010).
• Self-stigma is correlated with poorer vocational
outcomes (employment success) and increased
social isolation (Yanos, Roe & Lysaker, 2010).
Stigma
Mental
Health
Physical
Health

10. Source: T. Gadalla, "Association of Comorbid Mood Disorders and Chronic
Illness with Disability and Quality of Life in Ontario, Canada," Chronic
Diseases in Canada 28, no. 4 (2008): 148-154

11. How can we eliminate stigma?
• Raise awareness of mental health problem.
• Improve attitudes towards people with
mental health problems.
• Increase future willingness to disclose mental
health problems.
• Promote behaviors associated with anti-
stigma engagement.

12. Model of Societal Change
Understanding
Awareness
De-mystify
Inform Normalise
Accept
Include
Support
Network
Equality

13. Do You Know?
What is a common symptom of schizophrenia?
What proportion of people with severe mental
health problems have been victims of a crime in
the previous year?
What proportion of people with mental health
problems experience stigma?
What proportion of people with mental health
problems reported stigma affecting their
friendships?
http://www.time-to-
change.org.uk/mental-health-quiz

14. Thank-You