Table of Contents

ABSTRACT

Nearly 47% of the population in the United States is affected by mental health disorders. There are many factors that play into the stigma associated with mental health. The current study will explore the stigma associated with mental health disorders along with its associated factors and how they impact the utilization of mental health services. The current paper is a narrative review synthesizing the findings from a literature search of medical databases including Google Scholar, St George’s University Discovery Service, PubMed and the Cochrane Library. Keywords searched include “mental health stigma,” “psychiatric disorders stigma” and a combination of those words. The studies were manually reviewed and categorized based on the explored factors associated with mental health stigma. The incidence of mental health disorders has increased over the last decades, yet multiple barriers prevent access to treatment. The attitudes associated with mental health stigma influences several aspects of the daily life of a mentally ill person: self-perception, finances and housing, social and professional relationships, and treatment-seeking behavior. The stigma of mental illness must be considered holistically to truly understand the impact on those mentally ill. The negative consequences of stigma, although not completely revealed, are pervasive enough to negatively impact those with mental health issues.

Keywords: stigma; help-seeking; mental health services; mental health literacy