What Is Mental Health Stigma?

If you’re wondering about mental health stigma and seeking answers to the question “What is stigma in mental health?” this article has the information you need. 

The way we think about mental illness—both at an individual and a societal level—is hugely important to influencing policy decisions about treatment and how mental health services are covered by insurance. But, the unfortunate truth is that mental illness is often looked at through an inaccurate and harmful lens—a lens referred to as mental health stigma.

Mental health stigma can be detrimental—for people living with mental illness, for the people who love them, and for society as a whole.

But, what is stigma in mental health? Why is it that mental health is so often stigmatized? What kind of risks does the stigmatization of mental health present? And, what steps can we take to start destigmatizing mental health?

What is stigma in mental health?

The definition of being stigmatized is being “unfairly regarded by many people as being bad or having something to be ashamed of.” 

According to Jenny Woo, PhD, MBA, a Harvard-trained educator, emotional intelligence researcher, and founder and CEO of Mind Brain Emotion, Mental health stigma refers to the negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes that are associated with mental illness.” 

There are several different types of mental health stigma.

Public stigma has to do with societal views on mental health. “Public stigma refers to how society, at large, views and treats people with mental illness—in the media, social norms, and cultural expectations,” says Woo.

Personal stigma, as the name suggests, is how individuals negatively view their own mental health challenges.

“Personal stigma happens when an individual is afraid to seek help for their mental health struggles because they feel shameful of what they’re going through,” Woo says.

There is also what’s known as structural stigma—which is mental health stigma that happens at a systemic (or structural) level. 

According to The Lancet Commission on Ending Stigma and Discrimination in Mental Health, structural stigma refers to “the inequitable deprioritization, devaluation, and othering of mental health…(compared with physical health) within our health-care delivery, governance, knowledge building, and training system.” 

Mental health stigma examples

There are a number of ways that the stigma around mental health can present—at the individual, societal, and structural level.
Mental health stigma examples include:

The belief that mental illness isn’t real or valid

Some people question the validity of mental health issues. According to Woo, unlike physical ailments, mental health problems are invisible—and because people can’t see the illness, they may question whether it’s real.

The belief that mental illness is a personal failing 

Another common stigma is that mental health is some kind of personal failing. “[A] common mental health stigma…[is] the belief that individuals with mental illness lack willpower and that mental health issues are a result of their personal mental weakness [rather] than medical condition,” says Woo. “It’s the misconception that mental illness is something you can ‘snap out of’ if you just try hard enough.”

The belief that people with mental illness are dangerous

Some people believe that people with mental illness are more likely to be dangerous. 

“Assumptions also include that people with mental illness are dangerous or unpredictable,” says Woo.

The belief that people with mental illness are “less than” 

In addition to being viewed as dangerous, people with mental illness may often be looked at as weak.

The belief that mental health issues don’t warrant treatment

Another common manifestation of mental health stigma is the idea that it doesn’t need or deserve treatment. While many people wouldn’t think twice about getting treatment for a broken leg or kidney infection, they don’t take that same approach for dealing with mental health conditions like depression or anxiety. 

“[An example of stigma is] treating mental health conditions differently from physical health conditions,” says Gary Tucker, chief clinical officer and licensed psychotherapist at D’Amore Mental Health. “Most people see it as important to visit a doctor for a physical illness—but hesitate to seek professional help for mental health problems.”

In addition to the stigma of mental health problems as a whole, there are also stigmas associated with individual conditions. 

For example, someone might believe that “people with depression or ADHD are lazy, people with anxiety are dramatic, or that people with schizophrenia or other psychoses are violent,” says Valerie Smith, LCSW, a New York-based social worker and private practice owner at Sugar Maple Counseling and Ecotherapy.

Why is mental health stigmatized?

Thankfully, mental health stigma isn’t a universal perspective. 

Now that we’ve discussed what mental health stigma is (and have examined a few mental health stigma examples), let’s look into why mental health is so often stigmatized.

There are a number of factors that drive stigma around mental health, including:

Lack of awareness and/or education

Some people have negative views on mental illness and mental health challenges simply because they don’t know any better. “Mental health is often stigmatized because of a lack of knowledge, understanding, or awareness of mental illness,” says Woo. 

Lack of communication

There isn’t a ton of open, honest, and informed dialogue on mental health—which can definitely contribute to stigma. “The lack of open conversations around the complexities of mental health conditions also perpetuates misconceptions that those with mental health challenges are ‘broken,’ ‘dangerous,’ or ‘weak-minded,’” says Woo.

Different presentations among mental health conditions

Mental health conditions don’t present the same way as physical ailments. In many ways, they are less visible—and that can make people question their validity. “Unlike physical ailments, mental health problems are invisible and can have either a gradual or sudden onset,” says Woo.

Cultural issues

There can also be cultural issues at play that drive stigma. For example, some cultures place a high value on privacy and may be less willing to acknowledge or seek treatment for mental health challenges. “Different cultures have varied beliefs and attitudes towards mental health, [with] some viewing it as a taboo subject,” says Tucker.

Media depictions

Mental illness is often depicted negatively and inaccurately in media (like television and movies). This can sway public opinion—and perpetuate myths, misconceptions, and stigma around mental health.

What are the dangers of stigmatizing mental health?

Clearly, there is a lot of stigma around mental health—and that stigma stems from a variety of sources. But why can mental health stigma be harmful or dangerous?

One of the biggest dangers of stigmatizing mental health is that it acts as a barrier that may block people from getting help—and, unfortunately, it’s a very present danger. According to Mental Health America’s Access to Care data from 2023, more than half of adults living with mental illness do not get treatment for their disorders.

“Stigmatizing mental health can discourage people—especially those from underrepresented communities—from seeking the support they need,” Woo says.

According to Smith, not getting support can exacerbate their conditions and increase the risk of detrimental outcomes like homelessness, job loss, relationship loss, or suicide. 

In addition, Woo points out that “a lack of help-seeking behaviors could instead be replaced with maladaptive coping and self-harm.” 

Because mental health stigma influences the way people perceive those living with mental illness, it could cause relational issues—negatively impacting the relationships between people with mental illness and the people in their life. “Stigma can strain relationships with friends, family, and colleagues,” says Tucker.

According to Woo, on a structural scale, continued public stigma can also hinder the development of effective public policies, research, and resources, which perpetuates a cycle of misunderstanding and neglect. 

“These stereotypes can lead to discrimination in schools and the workplace, further marginalizing those affected,” she says.

How do social stigmas affect people with mental illnesses?

All of this stigma can have a severe impact on people living with mental illness.

On a personal level, stigma can also make it harder to recover from a mental illness. For example, research has shown that self stigma can lead to lower self esteem, reduced hope, increased psychiatric symptoms, difficulties with relationships and work, and a reduced likelihood of following through on treatment—all of which can make it harder to recover.

“Stigmatization can result in feelings of isolation, shame, and discrimination—further barriers for those affected to get the help they need,” says Smith. 

Not only do personal stigmas negatively impact people with mental illness, but social stigma—the negative thoughts of other people—can also be extremely harmful.

“Social stigmas perpetuate shame and silence in those struggling with mental illness,” says Woo. “As a result, people are less willing to speak up and ask for timely help. This can lead to delayed treatment, worsening conditions, and a sense of unworthiness.”

How to destigmatize mental health

Clearly, mental health stigma can take a toll on people living with mental health challenges. Therefore, destigmatizing mental health is a must. 

But, how, exactly, do we do that?

There are a number of ways to destigmatize mental health, including:

Increased education

“Destigmatizing mental health starts with mental health education and empathy,”  says Woo. “We can take a proactive and preventative approach by sharing accurate information and normalizing challenges.”

Make getting help the norm

“To overcome the stigma surrounding mental illness, as a society, we need to…foster a culture where getting help is encouraged,” Smith says.

Foster open conversations about mental health on a structural level

“It’s essential to cultivate spaces for open conversations and experience-sharing in schools, workplaces, and communities,” says Woo. “It’s crucial to create spaces where people feel safe to share their experiences without judgment.” 

Parents should also have regular conversations with their children about mental health.

Create accurate and positive representations

 “Media outlets should portray mental health issues accurately and compassionately,” says Tucker.

Sources

1. American Psychiatric Organization. (2024). Stigma, Prejudice and Discrimination Against People with Mental Illness.
2. Mental Health America. (2023). Access to Care Ranking 2023.
3. The Lancet. (2024). Structural stigma in mental illness.
4. Psychiatry Research. (2020). The impact of illness identity on recovery from severe mental illness: A review of the evidence.

How SimplePractice streamlines running your practice

SimplePractice is HIPAA-compliant practice management software with everything you need to run your practice built into the platform—from booking and scheduling to insurance and client billing.

If you’ve been considering switching to an EHR system, SimplePractice empowers you to run a fully paperless practice—so you get more time for the things that matter most to you.
Try SimplePractice free for 30 days. No credit card required.