Millions of people around the world are suffering from mental illnesses. Despite its prevalence in society, little is said on the subject in schools or the workplace. “According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults will experience some form of mental illness each year,” and yet today’s society is vastly uneducated in that area (Paint The Stigma). Due to the lack of communication on the subject, there are a plethora of preconceived notions plaguing those who struggle with their mental health, leading to stigma and discrimination. The stigma surrounding mental illnesses has a strong negative effect on the quality of life of those struggling with their mental health. It is a topic that most people shy away from. Many people in the public eye struggle silently with mental illnesses. It is frequently unknown what they are going through until it’s too late. Every time a well-known person looses their battle with a mental illness, 
people come forward and say that we have to start conversations and destigmatize mental health issues. However, people tend to fall silent immediately after; no one ever starts the conversation. With all of the controversy surrounding mental illnesses, one must question the ways in which the stigma surrounding them impacts the lives of those who have mental illnesses. 

“Mental Health can be described as a person's well-being both psychologically and emotionally,” and because of the intangibility of mental illnesses they are often regarded differently than physical illnesses (Paint The Stigma). People who suffer from mental illnesses are often regarded as weak, lazy, unstable or even dangerous due to their condition. This type of judgment is never associated with physical illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease or cancer. “Unfortunately, the taboo surrounding mental health in general causes a tremendous amount of apprehension when considering acknowledgement. The media labels such individuals as crazy or dangerous. Many jobs, schools and social clubs will discriminate against individuals with certain disorders; prohibiting them from living fulfilling lives (Paint the Stigma).”

What most of the people who stigmatize the mentally ill don’t realize is just how large the percentage is of people who have some sort of mental illness. “One in five American adults has a mental illness” that is diagnosable, but even more people suffer from minor mental health issues (Mental Health First Aid). “1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem every year. Half of them say that the associated isolation and shame is worse than the condition itself (Time to Change).” The shame and isolation are direct results of the stigma. Fear of being stigmatized often holds large amounts of people back from seeking the help that they need. For example, “anxiety is the most prevalent disorder and it affects over 18.1% of the population. Over 6.8 million adults suffer from GAD or Generalized Anxiety Disorder while only 43.2% are receiving treatment (Paint The Stigma).” Less than a third of employees in the United Stated are currently getting the help that they need for their mental problems, which is unfortunate because most mental illnesses are very treatable through a wide variety of processes. 

According to a study done by Kaiser Permanente, “8 out of 10 workers with a mental health condition say shame and stigma prevent them from seeking treatment (Kaiser Permanente).” The lack of education on this subject in today’s society contributes to the ignorance-fueled judgment that keeps those in serious need of help from seeking it. “Stigma — negative stereotypes about mental illness that persist both in and out of the workplace. People living with mental health conditions are frequently perceived as irresponsible, lazy, or dangerous. They may face rejection, bullying, and discrimination — because unlike physical health issues, mental health issues are often viewed as character flaws or personal weaknesses (Kaiser Permanente).” Stigma often goes undiscussed in America because it is often more subtle here than in other countries; it is not deemed socially acceptable to openly discriminate against a certain group of people. In other countries, the stigma is far more bold. In Lithuania “some people with long term mental health problems are unable to own their own home (Time to Change).” In addition, there are “three major airlines in Asia also refused to allow passengers with mental health conditions on to a flight unless they were accompanied by a psychiatrist (Time to Change).” Other examples include not being able to enter public swimming pools in Korea, and signs posted outside public buildings in Japan denying entrance to the mentally ill. It is no wonder that when faced with this treatment, many people are reluctant to admit to having a mental disorder. 

In addition, mental disabilities make it more difficult to support oneself. Although 
everyone has the right to work in safe and productive conditions, “for people with mental health problems, achieving this right is particularly challenging (Gabriel et al).” Opponents of this issue argue that “employees’ mental health problems and their impact on enterprise productivity and medical costs are critical human resource issues. Increasingly, trade unions and employers’ organizations and government policy makers are realizing that the social and economic costs of mental health problems in the workplace cannot be ignored.” Mental health problems can undoubtabley impose a heavy burden when not properly accommodated. However, it is the job of employers, co-coworkers, and society as a whole to better educate themselves and seek a solution that appeases everyone.

Another aspect of mental illnesses that is not commonly discussed is the correlation between mental health and physical health. “The mind and body are connected, and people with untreated mental health conditions tend to have more health issues in general. For example, people with depression have a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke (Kaiser Permanente).” Those who suffer from disorders like depression and anxiety have common physical side effects such as insomnia, migraines and stress-induced ulcers. A common issue is that od comorbidity, which is the presence of additional diseases or disorders that occur along with a primary disease or disorder. The issue with comorbidity is that it can create a domino effect of health problems. For example someone who suffers from Generalized Anxiety Disorder might also have Chronic Comorbid Insomnia, which could in turn cause depression, which could lead to any multitude of other symptoms.

Mental health isn’t just a problem for adults, “mental disorders among children are described as serious changes in the ways children typically learn, behave or the manner in which they handle their emotions (Canopy).” According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, half of all chronic mental illnesses begin by the age of fourteen. Adolescents face many of the same hardships as adults. The CDC has reported that 70% of children with mental health disorders do not receive treatment. This can be even more detrimental to their overall health when it occurs in the early developmental years. “When children don’t learn healthy ways to express ‘big emotions,’ such as sadness, anger, worry, fear or even excitement, they can develop negative, substance or destructive behaviors that can have a profound impact on their lives. As children fall deeper into a disorder, they are more likely to turn to alcohol, drugs, self-harm such as cutting, or even suicide, to escape the reality in which they live (Canopy).”

The negative effects of the stigma are not limited to adults and young children; students experience them as well. “Stigma directed at adolescents diagnosed with emotional and behavioral disorders by individuals in their interpersonal network likely undermines their wellbeing,” and sets them up for more negative experiences in the future (Moses). Studies show 
that with college students, “personal stigma was significantly and negatively associated with measures of help seeking (perceived need and use of psychotropic medication, therapy, and nonclinical sources of support),” which would only increase the harmful effects of their mental disability (Eisenberg). Due to the fact that a large amount of the issue stems from students feeling as if they are being judged, it can be concluded that “efforts to combat stigmatization of youth with mental health disorders must help family members, peers, and school staff overcome their inclinations to make negative assumptions and discriminate against these youth (Moses).”

Critics may argue that there is no stigma imposed by society upon the mentally ill, and that any feeling of judgment or discrimination is merely paranoia. However, a recent study published by the Angelo State University Social Sciences Research Journal proves that assumption wrong, showing how being associated with a mental disorder can decrease a person’s trustworthiness in the eyes of another. An experiment was conducted to prove that “if a person has a psychiatric disorder and it is known publicly, that person is singled out, labeled and treated differently solely because of that disorder (Whitley).” In the experiment, a group of millennials were asked to study a group of pictures and then rate each person’s trustworthiness via a questionnaire. A separate group were given the same pictures, but with labels on each one describing different mental disorders. It was found that “those who viewed the pictures with the labels indicated greater stigma than those who viewed the pictures without labels (Whitley).” Based on the evidence provided in this article it is clear that there is a stigma associated with mental illnesses Those who are unaffected by the stigma often either don’t acknowledge it or attempt refute its existence. Another common misconception is that the recent increase in awareness of the stigma has resulted in a decrease of the negative effects. On the contrary, the acknowledgement of the stigmas existence paired with the lack of effort to counteract it has led to the self-stigma of mental illnesses. “Self–stigma is distinguished from perceived stigma (stereotype awareness) and presented as a three-level model: stereotype agreement, self–concurrence, and self–esteem decrement,” and can lead to severe self-esteem issues and depression (Corrigan et al).

It is abundantly clear that the stigma surrounding mental health issues drastically decreases the quality of life of those who suffer from mental disorders. Not only can it make it more difficult for those individuals to socialize, find jobs and maintain a healthy sense of self-worth, “stigma associated with mental illness can delay or prevent help-seeking and service contact (Gronholm et al).” The fear of being stigmatized can prevent people from taking the necessary measures to care for themselves. Mayo Clinic provides a list of the harmful effects of stigma, including “reluctance to seek help or treatment, lack of understanding by family, friends, co-workers or others, fewer opportunities for work, school or social activities or trouble finding housing, bullying, physical violence or harassment, health insurance that doesn't adequately cover your mental illness treatment, the belief that you'll never succeed at certain challenges or that you can't improve your situation (Mayo Clinic).” In an article on the Cambridge University Press website, writers explore how “stigma-related influences on pathways to care in the early stages of psychotic disorders” can negatively impact the lives of those who are affected (Gronholm et al).

This is a subject that many people care about, but few know how to discuss. Mental health stigma does not affect individuals; it affects society as a whole. At this point in time almost every person will suffer from some type of mental health issue at some point in his or her life, and those who don’t likely work closely with someone who will. This is an issue that effects each and every person whether they realize it or not. It is imperative that people become more educated on the subject, and start more conversations about mental health. Opening up discussions will lower the stigma and increase the quality of life of those who suffer from mental illnesses.
