If you have five close friends, one of them is likely to experience a mental health disorder this year. Would that friend feel comfortable talking to you if they needed help? Would a family member? Your attitude toward mental health makes a difference. Collectively, the conversations and messages we share shape perceptions about mental health – at home, at work, within religious and cultural organizations, with friends and online. They can either add to existing stigma surrounding it or work to dismantle it.

What is stigma?

Stigma is the pervasive negative perception of people with mental health conditions. The American Psychiatric Association identifies 3 different types of stigma:

• Public stigma: the negative attitudes others have concerning mental health disorders.
• Self-stigma: the negative attitude one has about their own mental health, which can show up as internalized shame.
• Institutional stigma: includes government or organizational policies that limit opportunities for those with mental health conditions, either intentionally or unintentionally.

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