What Is Stigma?

• A stigma is a negative attitude or idea about a mental, physical, or social

feature of a person or group of people that implies social disapproval.
Stigmas are a major concern because they can lead to poor treatment of
groups of people, impaired mental and physical health of those groups,
and other negative effects such as discrimination.

• While there are many different kinds of social stigmas, mental health
stigma tends to be very common. It can be strong, and it can impact both
mental and physical health outcomes in serious ways. Some impacts of
stigma include social withdrawal or isolation, compromised employment
and financial security, physical violence, and more.
Examples of Stigma
• Signs of stigma may be obvious, or they may be so subtle that they go
unnoticed. For example, a stigma can be presented as a joke that not
everyone recognizes as a negative view.Even when stigmas go
unnoticed, the effects can be damaging.
• Examples of stigma include:

• Using slang or labels to exclude people or groups of people

• Assuming that someone with a mental illness is dangerous
• Believing that people with physical health conditions are unable to contribute to society
• Jokes about a physical or mental health condition or race, ethnicity, religion, etc.
• Halloween costumes that portray people or groups of people in a negative way
• Assumptions made about a person's intelligence or behavior based on a physical or mental health
condition or race, ethnicity, religion, etc.
• People of certain groups repeatedly being shown in the media in a negative way
• Different treatment that is either isolating or harmful because of a mental, physical, or social
feature of a person or group of people
• Laws or institutional regulations that isolate or negatively impact certain groups of people
What Causes Stigma?
• Labeling: Labeling a person as "good" or "bad" is a natural way to avoid the
effort involved in trying to understand someone else's challenges or
experiences.
• Social identity: People base their identities on the specific groups they
belong to, and therefore perceive members of other groups less favorably.
Stigmatizing members of other groups can be a way to justify privilege,
exploit others for personal gain, or boost a person's perceived importance.
• Terror management: People are naturally fearful of developing a mental
illness or disability. If the stigmatized person can be blamed for their own
condition, it may ease fears that the condition could happen to anyone.
• types of Stigma
• There are three primary types of stigma. They were first described in 1963 by sociologist Erving
Goffman, though Goffman's types were slightly different than those identified today.4
• Harvard University. Stigma.

• The three types of stigma include mental illness stigma, physical deformation stigma, and race,
ethnicity, religion, ideology, etc., stigma. Within these categories, there are additional types of
stigmas.

• You may have also heard the expression "stigma in health," which can relate to physical health,
mental health, or both. It occurs when someone with a physical or mental health concern is
viewed negatively because of that health challenge.
• Mental Health Stigma
• Mental health stigma is a negative attitude or idea about a mental health
feature of a person or group of people. It relates to social disapproval of
the person or group based on the mental health feature.

• The negative beliefs can come from a variety of sources, including the
person with that mental health feature. For example, stigmas are often
associated with mental illnesses such as depression. This stigma may
prevent people with depression from pursuing educational and career
goals due to a belief of being less capable than people without
depression.
• Types of mental health stigma include:

• Social stigma or public stigma: When society or the general public share negative
thoughts or beliefs about a person or group of people with a mental health condition
• Structural stigma or institutional stigma: Systemic stigma of mental illness at a higher
level of government or organization that impacts policies or decision-making
• Self-perceived stigma or self-stigma: When a person with a mental health condition has
negative thoughts or beliefs about themselves based on that mental illness
• Health practitioner stigma: When the care of a person is negatively impacted by
stereotypes, thoughts, or associations of the provider about mental illness
• Associative stigma or courtesy stigma: A stigma that impacts people connected with
someone with a mental health condition, such as friends or family members
• Stigma Associated With Physical Deformation
• Physical deformation stigma is a negative attitude or idea about a
feature of a person or group of people related to a physical difference
or disability. It relates to social disapproval of the person or group
based on the physical feature or condition. This can lead to serious
negative effects.

• Like mental health stigma, there are different types of physical

deformation stigma. Examples of this type of stigma include negative
associations with deafness and blindnes
• Stigma Associated With Race, Ethnicity, Religion, Ideology, etc.
• Stigma associated with race, ethnicity, religion, ideology, etc., is a
negative attitude or idea about one of these, or similar, features of a
person or group of people. It relates to social disapproval of the
person or group based on the feature or features.

• Like mental health stigma, there are different types of race, ethnicity,
religion, ideology, etc., stigma. This type of stigma can impact
generations and has influenced laws and politics throughout history
Effects of Stigma
• Social stigma, or public stigma, occurs when society or the general
public shares negative thoughts or beliefs about a person or group of
people. For example, a mental health social stigma may be an
association between mental illness and danger or a belief that people
with mental illness lose control and hurt others
• People who are experiencing stigma and discrimination as a result of
stigma can be harmed in multiple ways, both psychologically and in
their daily lives. For example, someone who has been stigmatized
may:

• Experience feelings of distress and loss of hope

• Develop a low sense of self-esteem
• Experience a worsening of psychiatric symptoms
• Stop treatment or decide not to seek treatment
They may also experience
difficulties in their work or personal
life, such as:
• Trouble maintaining social relationships
• Difficulty maintaining employment or problems at work
• Social isolation, exclusion from social activities
• Discrimination when seeking housing or employment
• Bullying and harassment
• Health insurance that isn't adequate to treat the condition
• Social stigma can also have larger problems that go beyond impacts
on the individual. For example, people who have been stigmatized
may become homeless or develop substance use disorders. Some may
become victims of violent crime.
• Stigma Can Create a Stereotype
• This type of stigma and the negative effects can harm the people with the condition, people
close to them such as friends, family, caregivers, community members, and people who share
attributes with them but do not have the condition.
• World Health Organization. A guide to preventing and addressing social stigma associated
with COVID-19.

• It is often seen in the form of stereotypes and discrimination of those with the condition and
others.

• For example, in addition to someone with depression being discriminated against, someone
who is going through a hard time and is sad, but does not have depression, may also be
discriminated against. Despite the challenges, there are ways to cope with stigmas
• Coping With Stigma
• It is important to understand how to cope when you are facing stigma but also how to avoid
stigmatizing others.

• Coping With Stigma From Others

• It's important to first take care of your own health by seeking treatment for any mental health
concerns you may be experiencing as a result of the stigmatizing behavior of others. You can also:

• Find out if your employer offers Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to support employees with work
and life concerns including stigmas, discrimination, and issues that negatively impact mental and
emotional well-being.9
• Look for support from community or school resources.
• Join a support group for those with similar mental health conditions who may also be experiencing the
effects of stigma
• Preventing Stigma
• There are some steps you can take to support people who are experiencing stigma, to
avoid stigmatizing others, and/or to avoid spreading stigmatizing ideas:
• Notice signs of social withdrawal and reach out to family, friends, and health
professionals.
• Talk openly about the facts and realities of mental illness.
• Understand that mental health conditions are illnesses like physical health conditions.
• Be careful with word choices to remain sensitive to others.
• Bring awareness to language and actions that represent stigmas so they can be changed.
• Educate others to help destigmatize mental illness.
• Choose to believe and show others that stigmas are not accurate.
The Difference Between Stigma vs.
Stereotype
• The terms "stigma" and "stereotype" are often used to describe negative behaviors in society that
are directed towards specific groups of people. When a certain thing is attached to a stigma, it is
associated with feelings of shame.

• Stigmas are often driven by negative stereotypes, which are oversimplified and popular beliefs or
ideas about a particular group of people or persons that are often untrue or only partially true.

• In society, stigmas and stereotypes are often involved in shaming or discriminating against people
who have a mental illness, certain disabilities, or are a part of a certain sexuality, race, or religion.

• Both stereotypes and stigmas can have powerful holds on society as a whole and can leave a
mark on certain people or groups that leave them feeling ashamed or in danger for simply being.
• Stigma vs. Stereotype Definitions
• Stigma
• The Oxford dictionary defines stigma as, “a mark of disgrace
associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.”

• Stereotype
• The Oxford Dictionary defines a stereotype as, “a widely held but
fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person
or thing.
• Examples of Stigma
• While the two definitions seem similar, and they are, there are some
marked differences between the two.

• A stigma is always negative and develops because of a stereotype.

Stereotypes, although often wrong or partially wrong, aren’t always
negative. Although stereotypes can be positive, they are still
problematic because they "other" people, don't allow people to be
seen as individuals, and box people into certain expectations.
• Examples of stigma include

• Using labels to exclude certain persons or groups of people

• Assuming that persons with mental health conditions are dangerous
• Thinking that people with physical health conditions are unable to
contribute to society
• Making negative assumptions about a person's intelligence or
behavior based on a physical or mental health condition or race,
ethnicity, religion, etc.
• examples of stereotypes (which may not always be negative) include:

• Presuming that people who wear glasses are smart

• Thinking that women are naturally nurturing
• Believing that Asian-Americans are smart
• Assuming that teachers and nurses are women and that doctors and
engineers are men
• Discrimination
• According to the American Psychiatric Association, stigmas that develop
because of perpetuated stereotypes can lead to discrimination.

• Discrimination is the unfair treatment of groups of people because of

held beliefs surrounding their health status, sex, age, or race.

• Discrimination can be both direct and indirect and can come in the form
of:
• Excluding certain groups of people from things such as rental housing,
employment, or other services.
• Imposing extra measures on certain groups of people that do not
apply to the rest of the general population.
• Examples
• Direct discrimination occurs when done directly from one person to a specific group of
people; indirect discrimination takes place when a person is discriminatory on behalf of
someone else.

• For example, a person who owns a rental property excludes a person with a disability from
living at the property. That is a form of direct discrimination. A manager of a rental property
that has been told to screen people with disabilities is an example of indirect discrimination.

• Another example of discrimination is when an older adult applies for a job that they are
qualified for. Since they are older than other candidates, the employer decides to hire
someone with fewer qualifications because they are younger. That is a form of age
discrimination.
• Cultural Perpetuation
• Cultural perpetuation is a way in which certain stigmas and
stereotypes continue to pass from one generation to the next. This
type of perpetuation of certain long-held beliefs or notions
surrounding stigmas and stereotypes is what gives them their
longevity.
What Are the Consequences of
Stigma and Stereotypes?
• The vast collection of stigmas and stereotypes still prevalent in society
leads to negative consequences for the people and groups involved.
These consequences range depending on the group being stigmatized
and the result of the discrimination.
• On Marginalized Groups
• Marginalized populations are groups of people who are continuously subjected to
discrimination and exclusion because of who they are. Some examples of
marginalized groups include:

• Black, Indigenous, and people of color

• Older adults
• People with disabilities or chronic health conditions
• Those who have immigrated to the United States
• People who do not speak English or have learned English as a second language
• People who fall into a low-income category
• These groups are marginalized because there is an uneven distribution of
power between social groups and that is largely due to stereotypical beliefs
and stigmas. The consequences of this power imbalance lead to many
challenges and discrepancies,

• Less emotional support

• An increase in negative interactions within society
• Higher rates of substance abuse
• An increased risk of both psychological and physiological disease or illness
• Higher rates of suicide
• Around Mental Health
• The stigma surrounding mental health has been slowly decreasing in recent years, however, it is still strong and
those with mental health issues are still subject to discrimination. Because of this, people with mental health
issues can experience

• A reduced sense of hope

• Lower self-esteem
• An increase in their symptoms
• Difficulties maintaining social relationships accompanied by social isolation
• A lessened chance that they will stick to their treatment plan or seek help for their disorder
• Difficulties in the workplace or issues finding opportunities to participate in gainful employment, studies, or
school activities
• Physical violence or harassment
• Bullying
• An inability to access health insurance that covers the cost of their treatment
• Self-Stigma and Mental Illness
• Because of the societal stigma attached to mental health disorders,
many people with psychiatric disorders often self-stigmatize. This
means that they have a negative attitude towards themselves. Having
self-stigmatizing attitudes have been shown to decrease a person's
likelihood of recovering from their mental illness
Around Substance Abuse
• Many people with addiction or substance abuse disorder often find
themselves heavily stigmatized. People look down on those who use
substances, and because of this, certain consequences plague people with
addiction.
• Having a more difficult time reaching out for help out of fear of being judged
or getting into trouble
• Hiding their use of drugs or using alone which can be dangerous
• A lowered quality of life because it can be more challenging to find housing
or a job
• Having a difficult time getting proper health care
• Overdose
• When people suffer from addiction, they can experience three types of
stigma: self, social, and structural.

• Self-stigma is when they begin to have negative attitudes towards

themselves which can increase drug use, cause low-self-esteem, and avoid
reaching out for help. Social stigma comes from outside sources and often
leads to self-stigma.

• Structural is imposed on people with addiction by healthcare providers,

people who offer social services, workplaces, and government organizations.
All three types cause the aforementioned consequences
• Advocating Against Negative Stigma
• Many things can be done to help reduce stigma across different groups. Becoming an ally
with groups that experience stereotypical discrimination is the first step in understanding
how they are affected and what needs to be done to change how society views certain
communities.

• What the Law Says

• There are various laws in place that are designed to keep discrimination from occurring,
but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t still happen.

• For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act was developed to help protect people
with disabilities from discrimination. That being said, not all laws that are in place to end
stigma and discrimination based on stigma are adhered to all of the time.
• What You Can Do to Stop Stigma and Discrimination
• Several things can be done to help reduce stigma:

• Educational programs: Anti-stigma education interventions can present factual information to a

wide audience to help reduce the stigma that surrounds a certain group of people.
• Mental Health Literacy Campaigns: Similar to the educational program strategy, mental health
literacy campaigns aim to implement the sharing of mental health information to help positively
change society’s knowledge and attitude towards those with mental illnesses.
• Contact: People with stereotypical views rarely come into contact with the people who are a part
of the group being stigmatized in their minds. To reduce stigma, people have to overcome the
divide and spend more time with those in stigmatized groups.
• Protest and Advocacy: Protests have been highly effective strategies for civil rights changes.
Participating in peaceful protests with those who have experienced discrimination and their allies
can help you impose change at the grassroots level.