Journal Article

The Lancet Commission on ending stigma and discrimination in mental health

Vera San Juan, Norha, Gurung, Dristy, Morales Cano, Guadalupe, Guerrero, Zoe, Milenova, Maria, Winkler, Petr, Sabri, Taha, Davies, Kelly, Votruba, Nicole, Ma, Ning, Kline, Sarah, Hoffman, Claire, Lempp, Heidi, Makhmud, Akerke, Rangaswamy, Thara, Mak, Winnie W S, el Chammay, Rabih, Huang, Fiona-Xiaofei, Kohrt, Brandon A, Sunkel, Charlene, Thornicroft, Graham, Brohan, Elaine, Heim, Eva, Parry, Sarah, Henderson, Claire, Taylor Salisbury, Tatiana, Stuart, Heather, Baker, Sue, Gronholm, Petra C, Hosny, Nadine, Alikhon Aliev, Akmal, Fekadu, Wubalem, Rüsch, Nicolas, Demissie, Mekdes, Sartorius, Norman, Duncan, Joshua, Habtamu, Kassahun, Maulik, Pallab K, Schulze, Marianne, Hanlon, Charlotte, Li, Jie, Hijazi, Zeinab, London, Elisha, Ouali, Uta

2022

Overview

From traditional definitions of stigma, we have developed four main components to consider in this report: self-stigma (or internalised stigma), which occurs when people with mental health conditions are aware of the negative stereotypes of others, agree with them, and turn them against themselves; stigma by association, which refers to the attribution of negative stereotypes and discrimination directed against family members (eg, parents, spouses, or siblings) or to mental health staff; public and interpersonal stigma, which refer to the forms of knowledge and stereotypes, negative attitudes (prejudice), and negative behaviour (discrimination) by members of society towards people with mental health conditions; and structural (systemic or institutional) stigma, which refers to policies and practices that work to the disadvantage of the stigmatised group, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Stigma and discrimination contravene basic human rights and have severe, toxic effects on people with mental health conditions that exacerbate marginalisation and social exclusion, for example by reducing access to mental and physical health care and diminishing educational and employment opportunities [...]provisions that support the social inclusion of people with disabilities should be applied equally whether they arise from physical or mental health conditions. [...]health and care provision should be equitable regardless of whether people have a physical or mental health condition.

• Publisher: Elsevier Ltd,Elsevier Limited
• Subject: Accountability / Citizenship / Civil society / Community / Discrimination / Families & family life / Human rights / Humans / Inclusion / Inheritances / Mental Disorders / Mental Health / Mental health care / People with disabilities / Social Discrimination / Social exclusion / Social Stigma / Stereotypes / Stigma / Suicides & suicide attempts