Stigma and discrimination
Tackling stigma is in our roots. Back in 1923, Dr Kate Fraser – our founder – challenged the way mental illness was perceived and treated, and it’s been a consistent thread running through our work ever since.
Stigma remains one of the most damaging forces affecting people with mental illness in Scotland. Even as conversations about mental health have become more mainstream – with increasing numbers of people talking openly and honestly about their mental wellbeing – the reality for those living with mental illness has not changed nearly enough.
Mental illness has been sidelined and ignored – in the public discourse and, too often, by the mental health system. That's why we are determined to do more to tackle stigma and discrimination, so that people with mental illness are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.
But we can’t do this alone. People experiencing mental health problems face stigma and discrimination in and across social and public settings. We need to work together to identify stigma and what drives it across society and the mental health system. We need to eradicate those drivers and end stigma wherever we find it. We need to take action and create change.
What is mental health stigma and discrimination?
Mental health stigma is negative attitudes or beliefs directed toward people who have mental health problems or mental illness, based on assumptions and preconceptions.
Discrimination is how stigma is enacted.
Stigma and discrimination impact people in different ways but they are experienced most severely by people with mental illness, and by minority communities because they are often compounded by social and economic inequalities.
For example:
- Stigma – assuming someone with depression is lazy
- Discrimination – not offering someone a job interview based on that assumption
Types of stigma
- Self-stigma – this is a form of judgement that people with mental health problems might put on themselves. It can lead to loss of confidence and low self-esteem, and might prevent people from seeking support or from doing the things they want to do.
- Stigma by association – this is stigma experienced because of a connection to someone with mental health problems.
- Structural stigma – this can be rules, policies, practices, and laws which restrict the rights or negatively affect of people with mental health problems in particular. They can occur in various settings, e.g. in the workplace or public services.
- Public stigma – this is when people form an opinion of someone based on their mental health or their perceived mental health problems.
