ABSTRACT
Stigma operates at the personal (self), family/professional (associative), and society (public) levels. Public stigma occurs when people endorse negative stereotypes and consequently discriminate against those labelled ‘mentally ill’. It is mostly informed by the stereotypes of people with mental illness as dangerous and unpredictable. This makes fear the primary impulse for the development of stigma. Self-stigma occurs when persons with mental illness, giving in to the negative profile imposed on them, become prejudiced towards themselves. It could ultimately result in a low quality of life low self-esteem, self-loathing, avoidance of social activities, depression, a sense of shame, fear and loneliness. It could also lead to concealment or denial of psychiatric conditions and hence failure to seek appropriate treatment promptly. Thus, self-stigma is a major obstacle to recovery. It is considered the most damaging aspect of stigma as the internalisation of the stigmatised status could lead mental health service users to believe that they are of less value, and incapable of working and independent living. By association, family, relatives and mental health professionals can also be stigmatised “courtesy stigma”. Families report lowered self-esteem, strained relationships, and alienation from neighbours and co-workers. There is also the anecdotal belief that psychiatrists tend to behave like their clients.
