Mental Health Stigma and Help Seeking Behaviour: A course of action on Mental Health Stigma

Abstract

Mental health is a domain that focuses mainly on emotional, psychological and social wellbeing aspects. According to the American Psychological Association, Stigma is described as “the negative social attitude attached to a characteristic of an individual that may be regarded as a mental, physical, or social deficiency” (2018). In the case of mental health stigmas, these negative attitudes are held about all people who suffer from mental health conditions. There is a sense of “social disapproval” (APA, 2018) that follows mental health stigmas because mental health problems are typically associated with degrading terms such as ‘crazy’, ‘slow’, ‘retarded’ or ‘abnormal’ The second theme explored in this paper is ‘Help Seeking Behaviour’ which is described by the American Psychological Association as “searching for or requesting help from others via formal or informal mechanisms, such as through mental health services” (2018). However, help seeking behaviour doesn’t just involve seeking professional help but can also include confiding in a friend or family member about mental challenges that are being faced. Studies have shown that men often face greater stigma surrounding mental health issues, leading them to be less likely to seek help compared to women. This can be attributed to various factors, including traditional notions of masculinity that discourage vulnerability and emotional expression. Understanding gender differences and the stigma surrounding help-seeking behaviours is crucial in addressing disparities in mental health outcomes and ensuring equitable access to support services.