I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder about seven years ago. Since then, I have struggled with these problems as well as bouts of depression brought on by feelings of isolation and hopelessness. I only recently decided to explore medication as a treatment option, partly because of the stigma I sense society in general places on those afflicted by mental illness. As someone who has felt judged and marginalized for something I have a limited ability to control, I am interested in further understanding the way that this problem affects others in my position, and if a negative perception of mental illness is a prevalent problem in the global community or if its tendency to affect individuals adversely is the exception rather than the rule. I am qualified to write about this topic because it is one that has touched me personally, and I am passionate about comprehending the repercussions of mental disorders beyond the illnesses themselves. If stigma proves to be a widespread obstacle that inhibits mental patients' ability to heal, the first step to solving this problem is to evaluate it to its full extent. This is what I hope to do through my research using various sources, both primary and secondary.


This article (a primary source) explores the stigma attached to different aspects of mental illness through qualitative interview results from inpatients in an Egyptian mental institution. The study points to over fifty percent of patients reporting significant, debilitating stigmatization. It then elaborates by listing specific questions asked and giving percentages representing the distribution of subjects' responses.

The primary interest at stake in this article is the mental health of the individuals in question  --  while already unquestionably ill, negative stigma perceived by the afflicted could slow the treatment and recovery process. The study suggests that at least in certain regards, it is imperative that these patients feel supported if their condition is to improve. However, Egypt, an economically developing society, does not validate or take interest in mental illness, so this cultural value clashes directly with the prioritized need of patients to be supported.

The study appears to present objective information free from bias. To ensure reliability, the administrators only accepted responses from participants in a clear frame of mind. The study acknowledges it own faults, however, noting that its data cannot be considered wholly comprehensive and recognizing certain flaws in the nature of its design and execution.



This article claims that campaigns dedicated to reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness are overfunded in comparison to actual mental illness treatment and prevention research. It not only states that people afflicted with mental disorders do not prioritize the removal of stigma from their conditions, but that the effects of said stigma do not add substantially to the difficulties they face. Citing information published by the American Institute of Medicine, the National Institute of Mental Health and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, the source asserts that the best way to help those suffering from mental illness is with scientific exploration, not a social agenda.

The interest at stake in this article is also the health of mental patients, but a different aspect of it. This article values, and claims patients value, too, the improvement of mental disorders, not the improvement of afflicted persons' ability to get better through higher self-esteem. It claims that underfunding of important research is caused by overfunding of anti-stigma campaigns, which it deems frivolous.

This argumentative article is heavily biased toward one side of the issue. While the author briefly debases a series of counter-arguments with statistics from reliable sources, he/she is never named nor assigned any credentials. Certain logical fallacies are present within the article (causation vs. correlation) that also bring its accuracy into question.


The article describes the issue of mental health-related stigma in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), where the afflicted, anticipating discrimination, often resort to harmful coping mechanisms detrimental to hopes of treatment. LMICs generally have no understanding of the mentally ill, nor do they value treating or learning about mental conditions. While anti-stigma education is being recommended as a priority, it is not being met with much success due to a number of factors.

The interest at stake in this article is the quality of life for the mentally ill population in developing countries where the capacity for successful intervention is low due to limited resources. Stigma can only be improved in LMICs through cooperation of the public and the government, as well as programs tailored to cultural precedents. This is problematic because these low-income cultures often view mental illness as illegitimate, thus creating a clash in values with teachers trying to rid them of their misconceptions.

The study presented was conducted by verified scientists from Chile and the United States, and reviewed and edited by peers from Germany and Canada. This gives the article an interesting scope, as researchers from different economies and global regions will, predictably, approach stigma through varying cultural frameworks  --  an idea that must be further explored. A full list of references as well as a conflict of interest statement is provided, making the article's information credible, though a suggested solution is given which could indicate some bias.

The research question I selected is arguable, as some believe that stigma is not a pressing or relevant issue with regards to mental illness while others perceive it as a factor negatively affecting the lives of those already struggling. Most of the articles I found recognize that there are stereotypes associated with a mental health diagnosis, however, they differ on the degree to which this stigma impacts the afflicted. Conducting my own research has made me unsure of where I personally stand on the issue. Prior to discovering these articles, I viewed anti-stigma campaigns as necessary and worthy of extreme amounts of attention. While I still see cultural stigma as a significantly harmful issue that needs to be addressed, I now believe the bulk of mental health funding must go to prevention and treatment. In terms of my paper, I may need to narrow down my research question a bit more to make it specific to the thesis I plan to argue, once I formulate exactly what that is going to be. I believe a good route to go would be taking a geographical standpoint, and exploring the effects of stigma as they are manifested in different places. Since stigma exists as an element of culture, I would like to capture a stronger understanding of the extent to which stigma differs from nation to nature and society to society. In any case, the viewpoints I encountered in these three articles serve as a solid base on which to further shape my argument.
