what is stigma in mental health

Stigma in mental health refers to the negative attitudes, prejudice, and discrimination that people with mental illness face. Stigma can be subtle or obvious, but it can lead to harm and marginalization of people with mental illness. There are different types of stigma, including public stigma and self-stigma. Public stigma is the reaction that the general population has to people with mental illness, while self-stigma refers to the negative attitudes, including internalized shame, that people with mental illness have about their own condition. Stigma often comes from a lack of understanding or fear, and inaccurate or misleading media representations of mental illness contribute to both those factors. Stigma can make mental health problems worse and delay or stop people from getting help. The harmful effects of stigma include feelings of shame, hopelessness, and isolation, reluctance to ask for help or to get treatment, lack of understanding by family, friends, or others, and fewer opportunities for employment or education.