Mental health should be an essential concern for everyone. When your mental health is in a good place, you feel like you can take on everything that comes your way. But everyone struggles with their mental health every now and then. However, they may not always want to talk about it due to the stigma.

A stigma refers to a negative, shameful or discriminatory view of a specific quality or circumstance. There can be a stigma surrounding any aspect of a person’s identity, from their culture and race to their lifestyle and sexual orientation. When the concept of “stigma” is brought up, mental health is probably one of the first things you think of. It can have a significant impact on a person’s overall health and wellness journey.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about what mental health stigma is and the impact it can have on both you and your loved ones. Then we’ll discuss the progress that has been made to destigmatize mental health in recent years and how Lightfully can help guide you along your mental health journey.

Defining mental health stigma

Mental health stigma refers to being looked down upon, seen in a negative light or treated unfairly by others because of mental health struggles or a disorder diagnosis. 

There’s also self-stigma when it comes to mental health, meaning that there’s an internalized negative view that you place on yourself due to your mental health distress or disorder. It can mean seeing yourself as inferior to others or inadequate.

While stigma itself is a negative view on the overall issue of mental health, there are actually many different stigmatized beliefs and behaviors that can stem from it, including:

• Calling someone “weak” or “crazy” for their mental health struggles
• Misrepresentation or misconception about symptoms
• Minimizing the impact or severity of a disorder
• Avoiding or ostracizing someone with a mental health disorder

The impact of mental health stigma

The stigma around mental health is an important issue that can have long-term effects on a person’s overall quality of life. Here are just a few of the ways that the stigma can impact your or a loved one’s mental health:

• Not seeking treatment — One of the most harmful results of mental health stigma is the resistance to treatment or help for those who need it. Feelings of shame, embarrassment, or fear can make it difficult for people to admit when they’re struggling and seek treatment. If mental health distress or disorders are left untreated, the symptoms can worsen and have a negative impact on your overall quality of life. 
• Lack of support — When people around you are having a difficult time ignoring mental health stigmatizing beliefs, it can lead to them misunderstanding your negative thoughts, emotions and behaviors. If you don’t feel supported by your loved ones during your mental health journey, it can be difficult to find the right motivation and encouragement when you hit a roadblock along the way.
• Self-doubt — If you have a hard time with self-stigma, it can impact your self-esteem and your ability to see your mental health disorder as a valid medical condition. While self-stigma can cause you to label yourself as “weak” or make you brush off the distress as “no big deal,” you owe it to yourself to become the best version of yourself that you can. That means seeking treatment and opening up to those you can trust.

At Lightfully, we’ll work together to destigmatize mental health 

There’s always been a stigma surrounding mental health, as often shown through systemic stigma. It includes policies, laws and practices in workplaces, schools and health care systems that perpetuate stigmatizing beliefs and behaviors toward people with mental health challenges. 

The good news is that the stigma has been slowly decreasing as time goes on. People have started to address it more and more in recent years, reducing its negative impact. Research shows that generational shifts play a large role in the view of mental health, with younger generations acknowledging their struggles more openly. There’s also been more pushback on systemic policies and practices that don’t support people with mental health challenges.

There are popular podcasts, television shows and books that have mental health as a central theme to help people understand the importance of caring for one’s mental health. Actors and influencers are also speaking out about their own mental health challenges, showing that everyone can struggle, regardless of money and fame.

At Lightfully, we understand the power that mental health stigma that’s perpetuated by others, and maybe even yourself, can have on your overall well-being. We’re here to show that mental health disorders are real medical conditions that require real treatment, along with a solid support system and education. 

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.