Stigma About Mental Illness Still Exists

The American Psychiatric Association estimates that the lifetime risk for Major Depressive Disorder is between 10-25% for women and 5-12% for men in community samples. However, a recent study has shown that the stigma around mental illness, such as depression, substance abuse, and schizophrenia has not gotten better. In fact, the stigma about mental illness may even be worse.

Authors from Indiana University and Columbia University examined whether the attitudes of Americans had changed during a decade-long period from 1996 to 2006 about mental illness. The National Institute of Mental Health provided the funding for this research. During this decade, many mental health awareness efforts were made to help Americans understand the genetic and medical causes for schizophrenia, depression, and substance abuse. The researchers examined responses to survey questions throughout the decade spanning 1996 to 2006 as part of the General Social Survey. The General Social Survey is a survey that occurs every two years and includes face-to-face interviews. Participants listened to a hypothetical scenario of an individual suffering with alcohol dependency, major depression, or schizophrenia and answered questions.

The results indicate that more Americans accept the genetic and medical explanations for mental illness, but that these explanations did not have an effect on discrimination or prejudice. In fact, the researchers assert that in some cases, these explanations made prejudice and discrimination worse. For instance, in 2006 67% of the public attributed major depression as having neurobiological causes.

Additionally, the study revealed that a greater number of participants supported getting professional help for mental illness as the decade went on, especially for treatment by a psychiatrist. More specifically, 85% of the public supported getting professional help for major depression in 2006 compared to 75% in 1996. Likewise, 79% of Americans supported seeking professional help for alcohol dependency in 2006 compared to 61% in 1996.

The researchers note that while acceptance of neurobiological causes for mental illness increased support for these individuals seeking professional help, it did not effect stigma surrounding mental illness. In fact, the researchers discovered that it actually increased community rejection of the individual described in the hypothetical scenarios.

Bernice Pescosolido, a sociologist at Indiana University asserts, "Prejudice and discrimination in the U.S. aren't moving. In fact, in some cases, it may be increasing. It's time to stand back, and rethink our approach." She suggests involving individuals in every community on how to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health problems as nearly every family in America is effected by it.

If the stigma around mental health problems were lifted, perhaps individuals suffering from mental illnesses would be more likely to seek professional help when they need it. Currently, many individuals do not seek help for mental illnesses because they are afraid of discrimination and prejudice from employers, the medical field, and even in social relationships.

Perhaps if more Americans understood the exact nature of specific mental illnesses, there would be a decrease in discrimination. Additionally, Pescosolido suggests that mental health advocates could focus on people instead of the mental illness, focusing on the competencies and abilities that individuals suffering with mental illness possess.

This study is published on-line in the American Journal of Psychiatry. You can learn more about depression and schizophrenia by visiting the National Institute of Mental Health's pages on each condition.

Sources:

Psych Central: Stigma for Mental Illness High, Possibly Worsening:
http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/09/23/stigma-for-mental-illness-high-possibly-worsening/18524.html

National Institute of Mental Health: Schizophrenia
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml

National Institute of Mental Health: Depression:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml