Stigma Still a Major Hurdle in Getting People The Mental Health Care They Need

Fear of treatment, shame, and embarrassment are keeping a large number of people from seeking the help they need.

Experts estimate that one in four people have treatable mental or emotional difficulties, but up to 75 percent of Americans and Europeans don’t seek the help they need.

A recent study in the journal Psychological Medicine shows that the stigma associated with mental illness is still a major barrier to seeking treatment.

Researchers at the Institute of Psychiatry (IoP) at King’s College London examined data from 144 studies, which included over 90,000 participants from across the globe. They found that the stigma of mental illness remains one of the top reasons people choose to forgo care.

According to the latest statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 40 to 50 percent of all people with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia go untreated each year. The number of untreated people suffering from some other disorders, such as anxiety or depression, is even greater.

See the Famous Faces of Those Who Overcame Their Bipolar Disorder »

Types of Mental Health Stigma and Those Most Affected

The study concluded that the main types of stigma facing those with a mental illness included the stigma associated with using mental health services, and shame or embarrassment. Other barriers included fear of disclosing their mental condition, concerns about confidentiality, wanting to handle their problems on their own, and not believing they need help.

Those most affected by the stigma included young people, men, minorities, people in the military and, perhaps surprisingly, those working in the health field.

Ready for Help? Learn the Different Types of Mental Health Professionals »

Some Advice From a Stigma Breaker

Tracy helps her own bipolar disorder by writing about it on her wildly popular blog, Bipolar Burble.

“Every one of us sees anti-mental illness images and ideas in society and just getting a mental illness does make these go away,” she told ishonest. “We must consciously be aware of our own thoughts and feelings towards our own mental health and fight to ensure that any unhealthy thoughts are replaced by more reasoned ones.”

Acknowledging that it’s no easy task, Tracy said that it can take years for someone to get over feeling bad about having a mental illness. She said the important part is knowing that mental illness is a disease of the brain, just like pancreatitis or liver disease.

And just as with any physical illness, the pain of mental illness doesn’t go away unless you treat it. But instead of worrying about what others who doubt the necessity of mental health treatment think, focus on yourself and your own wellness.

“It can be difficult if people around you can’t accept your mental illness treatment but first and foremost, treatment is about getting you better and bringing people onside is a secondary concern,” Tracy said. “I recommend seeking out people who are supportive and using them to lean on at first.”

Read more on: mental, treatment, care, depression