Progress in the fight against mental health stigma, but more work to be done
The vast majority of respondents in a recent poll think that having a mental health disorder is nothing to be ashamed of.
An increasing number of Americans believe that people can successfully manage or even overcome the issues surrounding bipolar, borderline personality and other kinds of mental health disorders, according to the American Psychological Association’s survey, “Americans Becoming More Open About Mental Health.”
The Harris Poll surveyed more than a 1,000 U.S. adults on behalf of the APA and found that the vast majority believe that people with mental health disorders can get better (86 percent), and that having a mental health disorder is nothing to be ashamed of (87 percent).
Still, negative perceptions persist, though they are less among respondents who either have a disorder or know someone who does.
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A third of respondents (33 percent) say that “people with mental health disorders scare me,” but the percentage drops for those who have been diagnosed with a disorder (27 percent) or knew someone who had (28 percent). For those who had never had a mental health diagnosis or known someone who did, the percentage rises to 42 percent.
A significant majority of respondents (79 percent) say that less stigma and shame around mental health disorders would lower suicide rates. Nearly all (91 percent) say that people who are suicidal can be treated and go on to live successful lives and 87 percent say that people should talk about suicide more openly.
Progress needs to be made, however, around how young adults, 18 to 34, perceive mental health disorders–although they are the age group that report the poorest mental health of those surveyed.
A lower percentage (78 percent) of young adults say that having a mental health disorder was not something to be ashamed of, and more would keep quiet about the cause of death if a loved one died by suicide.
Young adults were also more likely than older age groups to believe that most mental health disorders do not require treatment (35 percent of 18 to 34-year-olds, 17 percent of 35 to 64-year-olds and 9 percent of those 65 and older).
“More young adults reported feeling shame and stigma surrounding mental health issues than their older peers,” says APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr. “This points to the need for psychology to continue to educate the public so that more people understand that there is no shame associated with being mentally ill.”
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