Though the topic of mental health has received far more attention in recent years, there is still much work to be done. As the world advances, we see a rise in mental health disorders as well. This is true not only in the United States, but all over the world. In several other countries, the topic of mental health is still considered taboo and is often quickly dismissed. This website seeks to shed light upon this real and serious topic by explaining what mental health is, how it affects us, and how we can each work to improve our mental health.
As previously mentioned, there is still a lot of stigma surrounding conversations about mental health. Mental health stigma is when a person or group of people see another person in a negative way due to their mental health disorder or preconceived notions and stereotypes surrounding a particular disorder. This can be detrimental because it could not only lead to discrimination (when someone treats another person in a negative way due to their differences), but it could also significantly worsen the person's disorder and prevent them from getting the help they need.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Social Stigma | Negative attitudes held by members of the public about people with devalued characteristics |
| Self-Stigma | When people with mental health disorders internalize those public attitudes and suffer negative consequences as a result |
| Health Professional Stigma | Negative attitudes possessed by health professionals towards the mentally ill (which could affect their quality of life) |
