Stigma and Mental Illness

• Nearly 2/3 of all people living with a diagnosable mental disorder do not seek treatment. Stigma is among the many barriers that discourage people from acknowledging their own health problems and disclosing them to others.
• Stigma reduces sufferers’ access to resources and opportunities and can lead to low self-esteem, isolation, hopelessness, discrimination, and abuse.  More tragically, it can deprive people of their dignity and interferes with their full participation in society.
• Stigma is manifested by bias, distrust, stereotyping, fear, embarrassment, anger, and/or avoidance.  It can lead others to avoid living, socializing or working with, or employing people with mental disorders, especially severe disorders such as schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder.

Stigmas are negative stereotypes about groups of people. Common stigmas about people who are mentally ill are:

• Individuals who have a mental illness are dangerous.
• Individuals who have a mental illness are irresponsible and can't make life decisions for themselves.
• People who have a mental illness are childlike and must be taken care of by parents or guardians.
• People who have a mental illness should just get over it.

For more facts about Stigma click here.