What Is Public Stigma In Mental Health

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Studies have indicated that self-stigma facilitated the effects of public stigma on psychosocial outcomes (Kao, et.al, 2016). Public stigma have been described as the prejudice and discrimination of the general population against a stigmatised group believed to possess devalued attributes (Corrigan, Morris, Michaels, Rafacz & Rüsch, 2012; Picco, et.al, 2016; Mantovani, Pizzolati & Edge, 2016). This has been recognised as the major source of stigma particularly in relation to mental health (Shrivastava, Johnston & Bureau, 2012). This is because individual and collective beliefs of acceptable behaviour and circumstance are defined by dominant members of society and expressed during interactions that influence at individual levels, providing fertile …show more content…

This can include a lack of and difficult access to mental health services, or insufficient coverage from health insurances (Schomerus & Angermeyer, 2008). Institutional stigma also includes stigma by health care professionals whose health care delivery is affected by discrimination and prejudice as caused by the stigma. Studies revealed that consumers believe healthcare professionals, such as nurses, principally contribute to stigma and discrimination against individuals who has mental illness (Ross & Goldner, 2009; Knox, et.al, 2014). This reinforces the stigma and amplifies the effects of prejudicial and discriminating attitudes and …show more content…

Clinically, stigma is related to an increase in the gravity of the symptoms, reduced understanding, and lower social and attentional functioning (Brohan, et.al, 2010). ‘Label avoidance’ also occurs, whereby a person with mental health problems are reluctant to be associated with or deny the condition resulting in delays in treatment and refusing to seek help (Lau, et.al, 2017; Picco, et.al, 2016). And even if help and treatment has begun, stigma can cause poor psychosocial and pharmacological treatment adherence encumbering treatment efficiency and the recovery process that leads to social avoidance and avoidant coping (Lau, et.al, 2017; Picco, et.al, 2016). Labels are created to separate those which are deemed different and deviant. This is how stigma works. Labels create stereotypes which results in separation, social exclusion, status loss, and discrimination (Ahmedani, 2011). Such can affect the economic status of a person, reducing employment opportunities, affecting personal income, increased benefits payment, discouraging investment in mental health care compared with other healthcare investments, and disinterest

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