De Stigma And Mental Health

Stigma and discrimination are risk factors leading to negative mental health outcomes. Stigma associated with mental illness often prevents patients from seeking and adhering to treatment, as patients may attempt to distance themselves from the labels that they feel marks them for social exclusion. It is also responsible for treatment seeking delays and reduces the likelihood that a mentally ill patient will receive adequate care. It is evident that delay due to stigma can have devastating consequences. Intervention studies show that de-stigmatization may lead to increased readiness to seek professional help, but other aspects like knowledge about mental diseases seem to be at least as important.
Physicians and other health care professionals