A Literature Review of the Public Stigma of Mental Illness

The public stigma of mental illness refers to an external evaluation that someone is violating the norms of society. The public stigma of mental illness effects those with a mental illness through the experiencing discrimination and micro aggressions, and often is a barrier to seeking help (Overton & Medina, 2008; Maier, Gentile, Vogel, & Kaplan, 2014). The public stigma of mental illness may also exacerbate mental health symptoms in individuals’ who experience it (Kendra, Mohr, & Pollard, 2014). Social contact programs have been found to be the most effective way to combat the public stigma of mental illness. Additionally, mental health counselors also are not immune to the stigma of mental illness, especially when it comes to disorders such as Borderline Personality Disorder and Schizophrenia. Due to this, social contact programs, making efforts to work collaboratively with clients, and advocating for clients may be needed