Topic 2 Types of stigma
There are two types of stigma (Newport Academy, 2022):
- Social stigma / Public stigma: Social stigma refers to negative attitudes and discriminating behaviour directed towards those with mental health problems.
- Perceived stigma / self-stigma: Self-stigma or internalised stigma refers to feelings of shame and self-blame that is internalised by those with mental health challenges. In other words, it refers to an individual’s feelings of negative self-judgment or self-hatred stemming from how society perceives mental health issues.
As described by Garcez (2021, 34), public stigma “[…] is the result of actions taken by a society that accepts prejudice against a group, whereas internalised stigma occurs when members of that group accept these actions and turn prejudice against themselves.”
As Corrigan and Watson (2002) mention in their article, “stigmas about mental illness seem to be widely endorsed by the general public in the Western world” and are less evident in other parts of the world. Also, it is interesting to note that physical illness is not as stigmatised as mental illness, since most of the time, it is believed that people who face mental illnesses are at in total control of their situation and they have inflicted this situation upon their own selves. Generally, it is easy to witness the ways in which public stigma is applied. The public may withhold from helping people with mental health issues, they may avoid or isolate them, or in extreme scenarios, they may apply coercive treatment.
Internalised stigma, on the other hand, is the process by which individuals with mental health issues internalise the negative attitudes and beliefs, something that can lead to social marginalisation, worsening of the mental condition, and an increasing hesitance in discussing their problem.
