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Image by Hannah Xu

Stigma not only directly affects individuals with mental illness but also the loved ones who support them, often including their family members.

Stigma around mental illness especially an issue in some diverse racial and ethnic communities and it can be a major barrier to people from those cultures accessing mental health services. For example, in some Asian cultures, seeking professional help for mental illness may be counter to cultural values of strong family, emotional restraint and avoiding shame. Among some groups, including the African American community's, distrust of the mental healthcare system can also be a barrier to seeking help. 

person lying down on white surface_edite
Image by Maria Lysenko

Some of the other harmful effects of stigma can include:

  • Reluctance to seek help or treatment and less likely to stay with treatment

  • Social isolation

  • Lack of understanding by family, friends, coworkers, or others

  • Fewer opportunities for work, school or social activities or trouble finding housing

  • Bullying, physical violence or harassment

  • Health insurance that doesn't adequately cover your mental illness treatment

  • The belief that you'll never succeed at certain challenges or that you can't improve your situation

Stigma happens when a person defines someone by their illness rather than who they are as an individual. For example, they might be labelled ‘psychotic’ rather than ‘a person experiencing psychosis’.

Everyone has a role to play in creating a mentally healthy community – one that is inclusive, rejects discrimination and supports recovery. 

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