Stigma Associated with Mental Health Problems: A Review

Abstract

Stigma is the negative attitude towards a distinguishing  negative trait or personal feature. Although there have been inflow of efficient and feasible mental health therapies and programs and medical advances, nothing could be effective to reduce stigma. Stigma results in negative outcomes including difficulties with employment, poor social life and a decreased quality of life and self-esteem. Health care professionals and community people have to raise voices against stigma. Effective way of tackling mental illness stigmas are speaking out freely about mental disorders, avoid self-stigma, avoid labeling and discrimination, avoiding   use of insolent language for mentally ill and  get proper treatment. Poor mental health literacy and stigmatizing attitudes towards mental illness is more among community members so there is need to prevent the mental illness stigma in community and educate the people regarding mental health and measures to tackle mental illness stigma.