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Stigma creating stigma: a vicious circle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Sokratis Dinos
Sokratis Dinos*
Affiliation:
BPP University, London
*
Sokratis Dinos (sokratisdinos@bpp.com)
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Summary

Despite anti-stigma campaigns in the UK in recent years, the experiences of people with mental health problems indicate that stigma is still a major problem. The stigma of being a member of a socially excluded group, based on socioeconomic, personal or cultural/ethnic characteristics, should be considered alongside the stigma of mental illness. Membership of a stigmatised group (not based on mental illness) is often itself a risk factor for developing mental health problems. This article discusses the experiences of people from Black and minority ethnic and lesbian, gay and bisexual groups to explore how stigma can create more stigma.

Type
Editorials
Information
The Psychiatric Bulletin , Volume 38 , Issue 4 , August 2014 , pp. 145 - 147
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2014

Background

The past decade has seen much activity aimed at transforming the experiences of people affected by mental health problems: specifically, trying to reduce the associated stigma. Publication of New Horizons set out a national vision for psychological health in England for 2010 and beyond. One of the aims was to ‘improve the mental health and well-being of the population’ by promoting equality and reducing inequality. 1 In an attempt to achieve this goal, a number of anti-stigma government-funded programmes have been launched over the past few years (Box 1).

Box 1 Recent and current anti-stigma and discrimination programmes in the UK and legislation

Time to Change: is an £18m charity-sector-led antidiscrimination and well-being campaign. As well as an advertising campaign, its work includes: a mass participation exercise, 28 community-based physical activity projects, a legal unit to pursue test cases of discrimination. Objectives over 4 years include 5% reduction in discrimination for people with mental health problems and 5% improvement in public attitudes.

Shift: was a Department of Health funded programme to tackle the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health issues in England. The programme was launched in 2004 by the National Institute for Mental Health in England and ran until 2011). Shift's work complemented that of Time to Change by focusing on employers and the media.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: this was ratified by the UK on 8 June 2009 and its Optional Protocol on 7 August 2009. Among its principles the convention aims to promote non-discrimination, full participation and inclusion in society, respect for difference and diversity and equality.

However, some of the latest empirical evidence of the experiences of people with mental health problems shows some strikingly similar results to evidence gathered 10 years ago. Reference Dinos, Stevens, Serfaty, Weich and King2,Reference Howe, Tickle and Brown3 Similarly, researchers in the Stigma Shout survey 4 found that nine out of ten service users reported that stigma had a negative impact on their lives and two-thirds of them cited that fear of discrimination deterred them from doing things they wanted to do.

The aims of governmental mental health strategies and the numerous anti-stigma programmes to remove stigma barriers were clear and simple. The problem is that the message may not be reaching those it is intending to reach (i.e. the general public) and/or help (i.e. stigmatised individuals). For example, a recent longitudinal survey looked at the impact of the ‘Time To Change’ campaign in changing public knowledge and behaviour Reference Evans-Lacko, Henderson and Thornicroft5 and results showed no statistically significant effects in any of the indicators measured (i.e. intended behaviour, public knowledge and reported behaviour).

Attitudes and behaviours towards stigma or what constitutes stigma may not be as straightforward as anti-stigma programmes conceptualise them. Delving deeper into the background of people with mental health problems reveals that within the stigma of mental illness lies another stigma, which may be as or even more pervasive than that of mental illness; the stigma of membership in a socially excluded group based on some socioeconomic, personal or cultural/ethnic characteristics. Membership of a stigmatised group (not based on mental illness) is often itself a risk factor for developing mental health problems. As Box 2 shows, there are many groups of people who are at risk of developing mental health problems, Reference Bhui and Dinos6 most of which are also at greater risk of stigmatisation because of their group membership. There is evidence that membership of a socially excluded group is associated with diminished economic opportunities, poorer interpersonal relationships and other life opportunities, Reference Link, Struening, Neese-Todd, Asmussen and Phelan7,Reference Corrigan8 unemployment and income loss, Reference Angermeyer, Beck, Dietrich and Holzinger9 constricted social support networks and poorer interpersonal relationships, Reference Link, Struening, Neese-Todd, Asmussen and Phelan7 delayed help-seeking and reduced psychiatric medication, Reference Sirey, Bruce, Alexopoulos, Perlick, Friedman and Meyers10 diminished quality of life Reference Rosenfield11 and other life opportunities, Reference Corrigan8,Reference Phelan, Link, Stueve and Pescosolido12 depressive symptoms and demoralisation, Reference Ritsher and Phelan13 and negative constructions of identity including low self-esteem. Reference Dinos, Stevens, Serfaty, Weich and King2,Reference King, Dinos, Shaw, Watson, Stevens and Passetti14,Reference Dinos, Lyons and Finlay15 It can be argued that stigma can create more stigma by placing someone at higher risk of developing mental health problems.

Black and minority ethnic and lesbian, gay and bisexual groups

Looking at the example of people from Black and minority ethnic (BME) and lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) groups, it can be seen that both share some similarities in terms of being socially excluded based on ethnicity and/or sexuality and in having a significantly higher prevalence of mental health problems than the general population (Box 3). Both the results and the similarities between the two groups are clear. Both BME and LGB populations have a significantly higher prevalence of a number of conditions, including common mental disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis, attempted suicide and drug dependence.

Most research points towards the higher prevalence of mental health problems among these groups being directly related to discrimination and social exclusion. Numerable surveys and systematic reviews have shown that the experience of discrimination or fear of being discriminated against can have deleterious effects on mental health and well-being (Box 4).

In addition to campaigns trying to reduce the stigma of mental illness, a number of campaigns have also been launched aiming to tackle stigma and discrimination associated with ethnicity/race and sexuality. However, similarly to the evidence on the less-than-successful outcomes of mental health programmes, research suggests BME and LGB groups still experience a significant amount of discrimination in everyday life. Such prejudice has an impact on well-being and the ability to lead a fulfilling life. For example, surveys conducted by Stonewall Reference Cowan27,Reference Dick28 have found negative or mixed public responses towards BME and LGB groups. A total of 64% of the British population responded that they feel ‘less positive’ about at least one ethnic group. Reference Cowan27 The same survey reported the general public believes that minority groups in the UK are receiving preferential treatment compared with the White majority. Although 66% of the general public believes that there is not enough acceptance of LGB people, one in five LGB people reported experiences of homophobic hate crime in the 3 years preceding the survey. Reference Cowan27,Reference Dick28

Box 2 Groups at risk of developing mental health problems

Children and young people

  1. • Children with parents who have mental health or substance misuse problems

  2. • Personal abuse or witnessing parents' domestic violence

  3. • Looked after children

  4. • Excluded from school

  5. • Teen parents

  6. • Young offenders

  7. • Young lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender people

  8. • Young Black and minority ethnic groups

  9. • Families living in socioeconomic disadvantage

Adults

  1. • Black and minority ethnic groups

  2. • Homeless people

  3. • Adults with a history of violence or abuse

  4. • Adults who misuse alcohol or substances

  5. • Offenders and ex-offenders

  6. • Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adults

  7. • Travellers, asylum seekers and refugees

  8. • A history of being looked after/adopted

  9. • People with intellectual disabilities

  10. • Isolated older people

Box 3 Prevalence of mental health problems in individuals who are Black and minority ethnic and lesbian, gay and bisexual

Black and minority ethnic

  1. • Three-fold increase of people with psychosis compared with White British people. Reference Kirkbride, Barker, Cowden, Stamps, Yang and Jones16 The risk in the Black Caribbean group is nearly seven-fold higher Reference Fearon and Morgan17

  2. • Two-fold increase of common mental disorders in South Asian women Reference McManus, Meltzer, Brugha, Bebbington and Jenkins18

  3. • Two- to three-fold increase of post-traumatic stress disorder in Black men Reference Fearon and Morgan17

  4. • Three-fold increase of drug dependence in Black men Reference McManus, Meltzer, Brugha, Bebbington and Jenkins18

  5. • On average, three-fold increase of suicide Reference Bhui and Mckenzie19

Lesbian, gay and bisexual

  1. • Two-fold increase of suicide attempts Reference King, Semlyen, Tai, Killaspy, Osborn and Popelyuk20

  2. • Over four-fold increase of lifetime prevalence of suicide attempt in gay and bisexual men Reference King, Semlyen, Tai, Killaspy, Osborn and Popelyuk20

  3. • One-and-a-half-fold increase of common mental disorders and alcohol and substance misuse Reference King, Semlyen, Tai, Killaspy, Osborn and Popelyuk20

  4. • 40% of lesbian or bisexual women met criteria for mental disorder and over 30% had attempted suicide Reference Warner, McKeown, Griffin, Johnson, Ramsay and Cort21

Box 4 The relationship between discrimination and mental health in Black and minority ethnic and lesbian, gay and bisexual groups

Black and minority ethnic groups

  1. • Experience of some form of physical racial attack was associated with a prevalence of depression almost three times and a prevalence of psychosis almost five times that of people reporting no harassment Reference Karlsen and Nazroo22

  2. • Experience of racially motivated verbal abuse or physical assault was associated with between a two- and three-fold increase in the risk of common mental disorders and psychosis Reference Karlsen, Nazroo, McKenzie, Bhui and Weich23

  3. • Believing the majority of British employers to be discriminatory was associated with around a two-fold increase in risk of common mental disorders Reference Hunt and Jensen24

Lesbian, gay and bisexual groups

  1. • Two in three (65%) lesbian and gay pupils report homophobic bullying, including physical violence (41%) and death threats (17%) Reference King, Semlyen, Tai, Killaspy, Osborn and Popelyuk20

  2. • Seven in ten gay pupils feel that homophobic bullying has affected their schoolwork and half of those who have experienced homophobic bullying have skipped school because of it Reference Hunt and Jensen24

  3. • Experiences of discrimination were significantly and positively associated with depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms Reference Feinstein, Goldfried and Davila25,Reference Choi, Paul, Ayala, Boylan and Gregorich26

  4. • A significant correlation was found between experience of discrimination and having a mental disorder or attempting suicide in lesbian and bisexual women Reference Warner, McKeown, Griffin, Johnson, Ramsay and Cort21

Where next?

It seems clear there is a significant gap in the perceptions of the general public and members of stigmatised groups. The former believe such groups receive preferential treatment, whereas the latter believe they are being discriminated against and are caught in a vicious circle of a double stigma. Such beliefs of discrimination are further evidenced by the significantly higher prevalence of mental health problems among these groups. The higher prevalence of mental health problems necessitates a change of practice that will enhance accessibility and inclusion, including appropriate training provided to mental health professionals. For example, cultural and sexuality competency training regarding BME Reference Bhui, Warfa, Edonya, McKenzie and Bhugra29 and LGB Reference King, Semlyen, Killaspy, Nazareth and Osborn30 groups respectively and knowledge of needs, beliefs and lifestyles. Similarly, campaigns to educate the public do not always capture the complexity of stigma and mainly target different stigmas in isolation. From a public health point of view, further evidence about the complexity of the issue is urgently needed before any specific recommendations can be made that will feed into future anti-stigma campaigns.

Footnotes

Declaration of interest

None.

References

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