Cultural competence involves understanding and respecting cultural differences, tailoring treatment to meet diverse populations’ unique needs, and integrating cultural factors into treatment planning. People with lived experiences of mental health disorders who share their stories, can normalize mental health issues and challenge stigma. Awareness campaigns can be instrumental in dismantling misconceptions and fostering understanding of mental health disorders. Practices that raise awareness of culture-bound syndromes offer a deeper, richer perspective on cultural influences on mental health. That is to say, culture-bound syndromes refer to unique mental health conditions closely tied to specific cultures or ethnic groups.
SAFE: Mental health facts for families
It was when I started speaking to fellow peers that I began to realize that stigma is probably the biggest barrier for us to really gain our life back and thrive.” Graham entered through his work as a psychiatrist and researcher, recognizing that what separated psychiatry from other areas of medicine was the problem of stigma. He admits this is a dramatic example, but it helps define the stakes – stigma can be an issue of life or death. “Let’s imagine that a person who has depression develops severe pain in their stomach. Learn what you can do about this stigma.
Questions to ponder
Sadly, discrimination toward mental illness is still in news headlines, media representations, hiring practices, and structural norms. By correcting misinformation about mental health conditions, the theory goes, you reduce prejudice and make it less likely for someone to discriminate. Stigma has also been cited as a reason that mental health services receive less funding and are considered less prestigious than other health services in many countries. Prejudice and misinformation can in turn lead to discrimination, both at the interpersonal level (public stigma) and in laws and policies (structural stigma). Many people prefer the term “mental health condition.” Even the term “mental illness” can add to the stigma.
Similar articles
To effectively address and reduce stigma in mental healthcare settings, developing culturally sensitive interventions and promoting understanding and acceptance of mental health issues is crucial. Contact-based interventions involve interaction between people with mental illness and members of the public Mental health stigma to challenge negative attitudes and beliefs. For instance, a study by Pinfold et al., (2003) showed that public campaigns using direct social contact with people with mental illness could significantly improve public attitudes towards mental health . For instance, a strong cultural emphasis on academic and professional achievement in South Korea contributes to stigmatizing attitudes toward mental illness, which may discourage individuals from seeking help . This stigma operates at various levels, including individuals, families, healthcare providers, and society, and cultural norms, religious beliefs, and social attitudes influence its manifestations and implications.
Religious belief perpetuating mental health stigma can lead to delayed or avoided treatment as individuals may resort to religious or spiritual interventions . Lastly, at the societal level, these cultural perceptions and beliefs can contribute to the broader social stigma surrounding mental health, leading to discrimination and social exclusion. Stereotyping, deeply embedded in societal attitudes, can foster a culture of fear, rejection, and discrimination against individuals with mental health conditions. Furthermore, some studies reveal that mental health stigma manifests differently across cultures and can be influenced by cultural beliefs, attitudes, and values . Media representations of people with mental illness can influence perceptions and stigma, and they have often been negative, inaccurate or violent representations.
About Medical News Today
“The best positive psychology resource out there! Dispelling myths can help reduce stigma, creating an environment of inclusiveness. One way to combat prejudice and subsequent stigma is to learn more about the targeted group. Terms used in gest or casual conversion can create or add to stigmatization.
Also, impairment of the relationship between the patient and the service provider and premature termination of treatment are among the consequences. Study results demonstrated that self-stigma is less frequent in the Romanian community compared to Malta, Croatia, and Lithuania, but higher than in the Swedish community . Winkler et al. found that stigma in Eastern European countries appears to be greater than in other European nations. Stigma remains a major obstacle to receiving psychiatric care in various cultures. By 2020, mental and behavioral health problems accounted for 15% of the global disease burden, surpassing the estimate of 12% . Non-peer-reviewed literature, studies not focused on stigma, non-human studies, non-English publications, and duplicate data were excluded.
Exercises for Positive, Fulfilling Relationships
According to Ritzer (2021, p. 162), “stigma is a person’s characteristic that others find, define, and often label as unusual, unpleasant, or deviant.” Labeling others separates people based on actual or perceived differences. The toolkit is undergoing expert consultation, being most recently presented to participants of the “Workshop on leadership and service transformation in mental health” in Brussels, Belgium on 22–23 May 2024.
How we reviewed this article:
False beliefs about mental illness can cause problems for people with mental health conditions. According to the Mental Health Foundation, nearly 9 in 10 people with a mental illness feel stigma and discrimination negatively impact their lives. Similarly, cultures that value stoicism and emotional control may view mental illness as a shameful personal failure or weakness, preventing people from seeking help or admitting they have mental health issues. One experience that does seem to reduce stigma is interacting with people with mental health conditions. These measures collectively contribute to improved awareness, understanding, and acceptance of mental health conditions, thus facilitating early intervention and better management of mental illnesses across diverse cultural contexts.
The fear of being labeled, ostracized, or misunderstood due to their condition often deters individuals from seeking help promptly. However, despite recent awareness campaigns, the field still struggles with the barriers that stigma imposes on patient care, necessitating additional analysis of the effects. The pervasive nature of stigma presents a daunting challenge to psychiatry, necessitating a rigorous and nuanced approach to its understanding and mitigation. To this end, developing programs and strategies that foster a culture of understanding and acceptance may encourage more individuals to seek help when they need it, improving early detection and intervention, which are crucial for better health outcomes.
- Graham and Charlene worked with 42 other researchers and people with the lived experience of mental health conditions to produce, in 2022, the Lancet Commission on Ending Stigma and Discrimination in Mental Health.
- A study by Kirmayer (2012) found that cultural competence training improved healthcare providers’ understanding of cultural influences on health behaviors and led to more effective patient-provider communication, thereby reducing perceived stigma .
- These then worsen the symptoms, lower the likelihood of receiving treatment, and alter the recovery of people with mental illnesses.
- Stigma, characterized by societal prejudice and discrimination, profoundly influences psychiatric care, creating barriers to the timely recognition and treatment of mental health disorders .
A person may also be less likely to seek help if they live with stigma. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that 1 in 5 U.S. adults has a mental health condition, and 1 in 18 has a mental health condition that significantly affects their daily lives. Stereotypes allow a person to make quick judgments about others based on a few defining characteristics, which they then apply to anyone in that group. Visit our dedicated hub for more research-backed information and resources on mental health and well-being. Disclosing mental health history can make one feel vulnerable when dating.
Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Tools Pack (PDF)
Stigma affects those struggling with mental health, as it We can create a space for those struggling with mental illness to feel accepted, understood, and validated. It contains questions, books, resources, and ideas to change perspectives on mental illness.
Institutional stigma is systemic and includes laws or policies from the government or other organizations that, intentionally or not, discriminate against those with mental illness. Those with mental health conditions may be labeled, stereotyped, or discriminated against as a result. Mental health stigma involves marking and discrediting people due to their differences, which can instill feelings of shame or worthlessness. Furthermore, stigma across cultures impacts psychiatric care in various ways and can create significant barriers to effective treatment. This is concerning because early intervention is critical for managing mental illness and improving outcomes for individuals living with these conditions. For example, several studies suggest that stigma can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment-seeking behaviors 13,16.
People living with mental health conditions who are trained in social contact are often called “experts by experience”. Graham and Charlene worked with 42 other researchers and people with the lived experience of mental health conditions to produce, in 2022, the Lancet Commission on Ending Stigma and Discrimination in Mental Health. A diagnosis could follow a person well beyond their interactions with health services, both in the form of negative attitudes or prejudice (“I don’t want to be around this person, they are dangerous”) and misinformation (“You can’t recover from depression”). Stigma is far from just negative attitudes – discriminatory behaviours are equally important to consider – which is why many prefer to use “stigma and discrimination” together. Discrimination may be obvious and direct, such as someone making a negative comment about your mental health condition or treatment. They can also educate others by sharing their stories to promote a wider understanding of mental health conditions.
- Fact – In the United States, 1 in 5 adults experience mental health issues in a given year.
- Stigma often comes from lack of understanding or fear.
- The process includes inviting members of the community and those harmed to sit together while they share personal stories and listen to the stories of others.
- A more precise lens helps people heal without losing their sense of strength.
- The severity of stigma differs from one region to another, and what seems to be the explanation of causation and the psychopathological understanding of mental disease in that area.
- Stigma forces people to not only struggle with their disorder but to cope with prejudice and rejection.
What Does Mental Health Stigma Mean?
Stigma often comes from lack of understanding or fear.