Mental health stigma is common in today’s world, so much so that it can prevent us from asking for help. It’s essential to understand why there is so much fear around it. Do we feel scared to seek support because we’re afraid we’ll be judged or seen as weak? Is stigma so powerful that we would rather go without help than be potentially ridiculed?
Many factors influence mental health stigma. However, if we can understand these, we can help break down why it’s so difficult for people to get the help they need. Unfortunately, in many countries around the world, people with mental health challenges face discrimination, which makes it difficult for them to access support.
In this post, we’ll provide tips on breaking down mental health stigma and ways you can learn to support yourself and others better.
How to break down mental health stigma
Mental health is a concern around the world. In certain countries, people can face social isolation and discrimination if they have mental health struggles. We’ll share some insights from two research studies conducted in Singapore and South Africa to share an international and a local perspective.
Singapore
Researchers in Singapore conducted a study with caregivers to learn how to address mental health stigma. The results are applicable worldwide and relate to the findings from South Africa, which we will share later in the article.
The Singaporean study explains how public stigma comprises three factors: stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. Addressing all three factors is critical to breaking down barriers to effective treatment.
For example, negative stereotypes include the belief that people with mental health challenges are “unstable”. From there, prejudice results because people start to believe that these same people are dangerous. This prejudice leads to discrimination, such as social exclusion and being denied health insurance.
We need to remember that with the right predispositions and life events, mental illness can happen to anyone. It does not discriminate, and neither should we. The researchers of the study mentioned above learned that society needs to address the following four areas to overcome mental health stigma:
1. Raising awareness
The first step to overcoming mental health stigma is education. Historically, people with mental health challenges endured horrific medical procedures to “release evil spirits” or had controversial interventions such as shock therapy. Even today, misinformation about mental health is rife and requires education to rectify misconceptions.
Although many governments have dedicated resources to educating people about mental health, this process needs to start early. Teenage mental health is another global problem. We need to implement programmes in schools and other social environments to help prevent unnecessary tragedies, such as teen suicide.
Advocates must also engage with members from various backgrounds to be successful. Challenging lifelong beliefs in specific cultural contexts can also be tricky, so educating people sensitively is essential.
2. Social contact
Educational programmes are a start, but researchers found that contact-based interventions were very effective. Therefore, learning about mental health in theory is not enough. Programmes that provide opportunities for engaging with someone who openly shares their mental health struggles can encourage more empathy.
3. Celebrity advocacy
An even more effective way to break down stubborn attitudes towards mental health is for celebrities to share their stories. Celebrities have powerful social influence, so hearing their personal stories can help to challenge prejudices by changing people’s mindsets. When people realise that even their most revered social figures also face mental health challenges, there can be a radical shift.
Some examples of international celebrities who advocate for mental health include Demi Lovato, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande. They have openly shared their personal experiences, and some have also created advocacy groups.
4. Legislation
Of course, campaigning and advocacy are vital, but to truly overcome stigma, certain behaviours and treatments have to be made illegal. For example, many people who admit that they have mental health challenges face discrimination in the workplace, struggle to get hired and don’t receive certain health benefits.
By outlining and enforcing relevant legislation, we can help to build a society that supports fair treatment. It might take time for these laws to take effect, but in combination with the aspects mentioned above, we can undoubtedly make strides in breaking down mental health stigma.
South Africa
While it’s helpful to get an international perspective on addressing mental health stigma, it’s essential to consider the influential factors that contribute towards stigma in lower-income communities, for example, in South Africa.
Living below minimum wage and living far away from a mental health care facility are some of the prominent challenges. High levels of stigma also mean that caregivers feel burdened by needing to provide care, as it is more challenging to seek help openly.
To find out what interventions would be helpful, researchers conducted a feasibility and acceptability study in a lower-income community in the North West region of South Africa. Similar to the results of the Singaporean study, researchers learnt the following about how to reduce stigma in South African communities, where stigma around mental health is rife:
- Group-based interventions have great potential to reduce stigma
- It’s important to strengthen the relationships between caregivers and mental health service users through better communication and other tools
- Sharing ways to reduce the burden of care for caregivers who also struggle financially
- Group-based initiatives need to be integrated into community-based mental health care services to increase uptake and social reintegration of mental health service users
- Further population-based anti-stigma interventions are necessary to create acceptance of mental health services in communities.
Learn more about managing your mental health
If you are interested in learning more about mental health, SACAP Global offers a variety of short online courses and workshops that explore mental health. These online courses will empower you with knowledge and skills to enhance your mental health. These include the following:
- Enhancing Mental Health
- Introducing the EmotionAid® Protocol
- Youth Mental Health First Aid
- Managing and Preventing Anxiety
- Holistic Approach to Managing Depression
Important note: If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health and in urgent need of help, contact the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) or call one of the hotlines below:
- Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0800 567 567
- Love Life Youth Line: 0800 121 900