Stopping Stigma: Changing Attitudes

What Is Stigma?

Stigma exists when elements of labeling, stereotyping, separation, status loss, and discrimination occur together in a power situation that allows them.Link & Phelan, 2001

Stigma is a complex sociological phenomenon. It’s not inherent in mental illness; rather, it comes from social beliefs about what’s considered “normal” and socially acceptable, and what kinds of identities are considered deviant. These deviant identities tend to be seen as encompassing the whole person, and society views people with these identities as Other.

Stigma involves multiple elements:

• Stereotypes: Stereotypes are ideas that represent groups of people. We learn these early in life. Stereotypes about mental illness tend to be rigidly applied to all members of the group as though we’re one homogeneous identity. The stereotype that mentally ill people are violent is particularly pervasive and damaging, and it’s regularly reinforced in the news and entertainment media.
• Prejudice: Prejudice refers to negative attitudes, including thoughts and emotions, that are based on stereotypes. For example, the violence stereotype may trigger fear and a desire to avoid being around someone who has a mental illness.
• Discrimination: This refers to behaviours that result from prejudice that end up disadvantaging people with mental illness. An example of discrimination would be an employer choosing not to hire someone with a mental illness based on their prejudiced attitudes towards mental illness and the associated stereotypes.

Levels of Stigma

Stigma can occur on multiple levels:

• Public stigma: public views and discrimination around mental illness
• Structural stigma: entrenched in laws and policies in governments and other institutions, often involving arbitrary distinctions based solely on membership in the broad group of people with mental illness
• Self-stigma: results from internalizing public stigma
• Feared vs. experienced stigma: even if prejudice and discrimination aren’t presently occurring, the expectation that they’re likely to occur and the hypervigilance that results are also very damaging

Self-Stigma

Sometimes, stigma is internalized to become self-stigma. This happens when stereotypes that are part of public stigma are seen as being valid. These stereotypes are then applied to the self. This has significant consequences, including devaluation of the self and behavioural changes related to a “why try” attitude.

Peer support can be a powerful way of combatting self-stigma. You can read more here about the benefits of peer support.

https://mentalhealthathome.org/resources/stop-the-stigma/