Written by Zeynep Demirag | Edited by Zainab Bhatti and Nicole Xu

Stigma is a set of negative beliefs and prejudices about a group of people. Many people face stigma because of their race, religion, sexuality, gender, and economic situation. People with mental illness often experience discrimination, and this can make them feel ashamed, hopeless, distressed, and reluctant to get help. This may also make those with mental illness reserved in  accepting help and make them feel like they are to blame for their illness. Research on stigma shows that although people understand and acknowledge the medical and genetic nature of mental disorders, they still maintain a negative view of those with mental disorders.¹ The American Psychiatric Association identifies three different types of stigma: public stigma, self stigma, and institutional stigma.  Public stigma is when one faces discrimination or negative attitudes by other people. Self stigma is the internalized shame that people with mental illness have about their own condition while institutional stigma is more systemic, involving  government and private organization policies that intentionally or unintentionally limit opportunities for people with mental disorders. Examples include lower funding for mental illness research or fewer mental health services relative to other health care services.² 

Oftentimes other people’s judgment about mental illnesses comes from a lack of knowledge about peoples’ situations. According to the American Psychiatric Association, when we know someone with mental illness, mental disorder becomes less scary and more real or relatable.² A 2016 review of research showed that an effort to reduce mental health stigma is evidently making it better internally and on a populational level. The strongest evidence was for anti-stigma efforts involving those with lived mental health experiences and efforts with a long-term commitment.³ 

Here are some suggestions from The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) about what you can do as an individual to unlearn mental illness :⁴

1. Talk openly about mental health, such as sharing on social media in a constructive way.   A 2020 survey suggests that 90% of adolescents and young adults who experience depression are researching mental disorders online and accessing other people’s podcasts, blogs, and videos.³
2. Educate yourself and others. Respond to misperceptions or negative comments by sharing facts and experiences.
3. Be conscious of language. Remind people that language is powerful and let others know when they are using stigmatizing language or presenting  mental illness in a stigmatizing way. Remember, unlearning  stigma is more important than learning what to do about it
4. Encourage equality between physical and mental illness. Draw comparisons to how others would treat someone with visible illnesses such as cancer or heart disease
5. Show compassion for those with mental illness – they are not avoiding you, rather they might be struggling to cope with a mental illness.
6. Normalize mental health treatment – there are no anti-cardiology movements or movements trying to ban cancer treatment, but there is a virulent anti-psychiatry movement that disclaims mental illness
7. Choose empowerment over shame – your mind is more important than what others think about you

¹ Vigo, Daniel. “The health crisis of mental health stigma.” Lancet 3 (2016): 171-178

²Borenstein, Jeffrey. “Stigma, Prejudice and Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness.” American Psychiatric Association, Aug. 2020, www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/stigma-and-discrimination. 

³Center for Workplace Mental Health. Working Well Toolkit. 2016.4

⁴ “Mental Illness.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Nov. 2020, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml.