ABSTRACT
Social Exclusion: Stigma deprives people with mental illness of their basic citizenship rights. It can rob them of opportunities for obtaining competitive employment, accessing services, and living independently in a safe and comfortable home. Structural Discrimination: Structural stigma reflects policies of private and public institutions that intentionally or unintentionally restrict opportunities for people with mental illness. For instance, in spite of being a leading cause of disability, mental health receives the least funding in the health budgets of many developing countries, and there are insurance barriers. Persons with mental illness are more likely to be accused falsely of violent crimes even when they are actually more likely to be victims. Increased Burden of Disease: Stigma can have a significant negative impact on the psychosocial functioning of people with mental illnesses through both experienced and anticipated discrimination which can exacerbate paranoid symptoms. Impedance of Help-seeking: Stigma underlies the shame and secrecy associated with suffering from mental illness and the reluctance to self-disclose. Impedance of Treatment and Recovery: Stigma is arguably the most significant obstacle to the appropriate treatment, rehabilitation, recovery, and development of effective care and treatment for sufferers of mental illness. It can cause delays in diagnosis and affect psychiatric treatment adherence. It is a primary obstacle in mental health prevention and research.
