“Stigma, characterized by societal prejudice and discrimination, profoundly influences psychiatric care, creating barriers to the timely recognition and treatment of mental health disorders. Deeply embedded in societal norms, stigma is a multifaceted issue permeating every level of psychiatric care, leading to delayed treatment, increased morbidity, and a diminished quality of life for patients.
The importance of addressing stigma in psychiatry cannot be overstated as stigma impacts individuals seeking care, their families, healthcare professionals, and broader society. At the individual level, stigma can lead to fear and avoidance of mental health services, causing delays in seeking help even when a patient is in dire need. Delays in seeking care can exacerbate mental health conditions leading to worse outcomes and reduced quality of life. For families, the stigma can lead to shame and isolation, making seeking necessary support and resources more difficult. Interestingly, in healthcare professionals, stigma can lead to burnout and demoralization, reducing the quality and provision of care. Stigmatization can also create barriers between healthcare providers and patients, complicating matters to establishing trustful and therapeutic relationships, which are essential for effective care. For society at large, stigma can result in the misallocation of resources, with mental health services often being underfunded and overlooked. Hence stigma has profound effects at personal and societal levels, negatively impacting multiple levels of the psychotic care continuum.”
(Ahad AA, et al., “Understanding and Addressing Mental Health Stigma Across Cultures for Improving Psychiatric Care: A Narrative Review,” Cureus, May 2023)
session partners
Moderator
Laura J. Downey
Panelist
Darcy Gruttadaro
Panelist
Maggie Hureau
Panelist
Wenhua Lu, PhD
Student Speaker
Giorgio Sylvestre
“Mental Health Stigma: Society, Individuals, and the Profession”
Ahmedani, Brian K., Journal of Social Work, Values and Ethics, 8(2), 2011
“Understanding the Impact of Stigma on People with Mental Illness”
Corrigan, Patrick W, and Amy Watson, World Psychiatry: Official Journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 1(1), 2002
“An Ecological Study of a Universal Employee Depression Awareness and Stigma Reduction Intervention: “Right Direction”
Doty, Benjamin et al., Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12(581876), 2021
“The Impact of Mental Illness Stigma on Psychiatric Emergencies”
Geraldo da Silva, Antônio et al., Frontiers in Psychiatry 11(573), 2020
“Stop the Stigma: Why it's Important to Talk about Mental Health”
Sarkis, Heather, TED. February 2019
“Examination of Young US Adults' Reasons for Not Seeking Mental Health Care for Depression, 2011-2019”
Lu, Wenhua, JAMA Network Open, 5(5), 2022.
Bring Change to Mind (BC2M)
BC2M provides support for high school students interested in starting peer-led mental health clubs at their schools.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
Mental Health America (MHA)
MHA works to close the mental health equity gap while increasing nationwide awareness and understanding.
Greater Mental Health of New York
Greater Mental Health of New York is the new name of the merged entity of The Mental Health Association of Westchester and The Mental Health Association of Rockland.
The Bridge
The Bridge offers supportive housing and behavioral health services to vulnerable New Yorkers living with behavioral health and substance use concerns.
Who Represents Me? NYC
Who Represents Me? NYC provides the current lists of officials and local contact information.
