WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Calinog Campus
Calinog, Iloilo
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Graduate School

MASTER IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

PA 501 – SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

STIGMA

AZALEABELLE R. PARCON DR. ANDY JOSE A.

CASABUENA
MPA Student Course Facilitator

Stigma - a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or

person

Stigma is when someone views you in a negative way because you have a
distinguishing characteristic or personal trait that's thought to be, or actually is, a
disadvantage (a negative stereotype). Unfortunately, negative attitudes and beliefs
toward people who have a mental health condition are common.
Stigma can lead to discrimination. Discrimination may be obvious and direct,
such as someone making a negative remark about your mental illness or your
treatment. Or it may be unintentional or subtle, such as someone avoiding you because
the person assumes you could be unstable, violent or dangerous due to your mental
illness. You may even judge yourself.
Stigma was initially described by Erving Goffman in 1963. He identified stigma as
any characteristic or attribute by which a person was devalued, tainted, or considered
shameful or discredited. Subsequent work in this area was influenced by the work of
Goffman, and the concept of stigma has been explored in many contexts and cultures.
Stigma is strongly influenced by cultural and contextual value systems that differ over
time and across contexts. However, most authors agree with Goffman’s basic definition,
which identified the main elements of stigma such as labeling, stereotyping, social
isolation, prejudice, rejection, ignorance, status loss, low self-esteem, low self-efficacy,
marginalization, and discrimination.

Mental health stigma is defined as the disgrace, social disapproval, or social

discrediting of individuals with a mental health problem. Literature identifies multiple
dimensions or types of mental health-related stigma, including self-stigma, public
stigma, professional stigma, and institutional stigma.
 WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Calinog Campus
Calinog, Iloilo
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Graduate School

Self-stigma refers to negative attitudes of an individual to his/her own mental

illness and is also referred to as internalized stigma. Self-stigma has been related to
poor outcomes, such as failure to access treatment, disempowerment, reduced self-
efficacy, and decreased quality of life.

Public stigma refers to negative attitudes towards those with mental illness by
held by the general public, often based on misconceptions, fear, and prejudice. Related
to public stigma is perceived stigma which is defined as individual’s beliefs about the
attitudes of others towards mental illness. Research has demonstrated the significant
impact of public stigma such as discrimination in workplaces and public agencies.

Professional stigma occurs when healthcare professionals hold stigmatizing

attitudes toward their patients, which are often based on fear or misunderstandings of
the causes and symptoms of mental illness, or when professionals themselves
experience stigma from the public or other healthcare professionals because of their
work and connection with stigmatized individuals. Professional stigma is of particular
concern as it may affect the care and treatment a person with mental illness receives,
including treatment for physical illnesses, thereby impacting their well-being and
recovery.

Finally, institutional stigma refers to an organization’s policies or culture of

negative attitudes and beliefs toward stigmatized individuals, such as those with mental
health problems. Such stigma can also be reinforced by legal frameworks, public policy,
and professional practices, thereby becoming deeply embedded in society.

In the context of mental healthcare, stigma has been identified as a major issue
for patients and families. Stigma hinders access to appropriate and professional medical
and psychological treatment, and can result in a person’s condition worsening or
multiple readmissions. Furthermore, the impact of stigma is so great that patients
describe the stigma and prejudice they encounter as almost as bad as the symptoms of
their disorder, and as a burden on their private and public lives. Stigma also affects
patients’ families or relatives and the professionals who work in mental healthcare
settings. Therefore, to reduce stigma in mental healthcare and facilitate the
development of appropriate services in Indonesia and similar countries or contexts, it is
important that the different types of stigma are clarified and understood within the
unique value system and culture.
 WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Calinog Campus
Calinog, Iloilo
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Graduate School

Some of the harmful effects of stigma can include:

 Reluctance to seek help or treatment

 Lack of understanding by family, friends, co-workers or others
 Fewer opportunities for work, school or social activities or trouble finding housing
 Bullying, physical violence or harassment
 Health insurance that doesn't adequately cover your mental illness treatment
 The belief that you'll never succeed at certain challenges or that you can't improve
your situation

Steps to cope with stigma

Here are some ways you can deal with stigma:

 Get treatment. You may be reluctant to admit you need treatment. Don't let the
fear of being labeled with a mental illness prevent you from seeking help. Treatment
can provide relief by identifying what's wrong and reducing symptoms that interfere
with your work and personal life.

 Don't let stigma create self-doubt and shame. Stigma doesn't just come from
others. You may mistakenly believe that your condition is a sign of personal
weakness or that you should be able to control it without help. Seeking counseling,
educating yourself about your condition and connecting with others who have
mental illness can help you gain self-esteem and overcome destructive self-
judgment.

 Don't isolate yourself. If you have a mental illness, you may be reluctant to tell
anyone about it. Your family, friends, clergy or members of your community can
offer you support if they know about your mental illness. Reach out to people you
trust for the compassion, support and understanding you need.
 WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Calinog Campus
Calinog, Iloilo
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT
Graduate School

 Don't equate yourself with your illness. You are not an illness. So instead of
saying "I'm bipolar," say "I have bipolar disorder." Instead of calling yourself "a
schizophrenic," say "I have schizophrenia.

 Join a support group. Some local and national groups, such as the National
Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), offer local programs and internet resources that
help reduce stigma by educating people who have mental illness, their families and
the general public. Some state and federal agencies and programs, such as those
that focus on vocational rehabilitation and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA),
offer support for people with mental illness.

 Get help at school. If you or your child has a mental illness that affects learning,
find out what plans and programs might help. Discrimination against students
because of a mental illness is against the law, and educators at primary, secondary
and college levels are required to accommodate students as best they can. Talk to
teachers, professors or administrators about the best approach and resources. If a
teacher doesn't know about a student's disability, it can lead to discrimination,
barriers to learning and poor grades.

 Speak out against stigma. Consider expressing your opinions at events, in letters

to the editor or on the internet. It can help instill courage in others facing similar
challenges and educate the public about mental illness.