Fear of mental health stigma is the number one reason why people avoid seeking treatment. Stigma most often refers to a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that society has about something. Unfortunately, negative attitudes and beliefs about mental illness are common.
Mental health providers in addition to our community partners need to raise our voices against stigma. By talking openly and accurately about mental health, we can begin to break down the barriers to treatment.
In this article, we set out to arm you with the knowledge needed to fight against mental health stigma – one fact at a time.