{"id":43962,"date":"2025-07-11T09:00:06","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T13:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/?p=43962"},"modified":"2025-07-10T21:37:09","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T01:37:09","slug":"overcoming-stigma-breaking-down-barriers-to-mental-health-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/overcoming-stigma-breaking-down-barriers-to-mental-health-care\/","title":{"rendered":"Overcoming Stigma: Breaking Down Barriers to Mental Health Care"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-43963 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Untitled-design-22-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"415\" height=\"415\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Untitled-design-22-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Untitled-design-22-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Untitled-design-22-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Untitled-design-22.png 1485w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 415px) 100vw, 415px\" \/>The importance of and demand for mental health services is discussed everywhere: in news headlines, media copy, books, podcasts, and even workplaces. While recent years have shown an improvement in public sentiments around mental health, stigma around getting help still persists in many forms. One recent study found that prejudices and discrimination surrounding depression, for example, greatly declined between 1996 and 2006, but negative beliefs around other conditions like schizophrenia or alcohol dependency persist.<\/p>\n<p>Weathering the stigmas around mental health can be difficult and discouraging, but with the right tools, you can protect your well-being and resist feelings of shame. Below are some strategies for managing and overcoming mental health stigmas so you can receive the support you deserve.<\/p>\n<p>Read More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/stop-stigma-12-inspiring-quotes-about-mental-health-0512187\">Needing a Little Inspiration? Check Out These Empowering Mental Health Quotes<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Know Your Enemy: What Is Stigma?<\/h2>\n<p>In order to make mental healthcare most accessible, you must first combat the biggest barrier to mental health: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/psychpedia\/stigma\">stigma<\/a>. This is the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes people may hold towards those who experience mental health conditions,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d which can also include negative attitudes or even discriminatory behaviors surrounding mental health in general.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re thinking you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have any ingrained negative attitudes against mental health, you may not know how to identify them. Mental health stigmas exist in many forms, like the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Structural stigma<\/strong> means the laws, regulations, and policies that limit access to mental health resources and infringe on people\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s health rights. For example, before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), employers could fire someone simply for having a mental health condition, which is now considered illegal.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Public stigma<\/strong> means negative or harmful attitudes from individuals or groups of people about mental health conditions or care (which can include families or healthcare providers). One example of this is if your friend witnesses someone experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder and calls them \u00e2\u20ac\u0153crazy\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or \u00e2\u20ac\u0153insane\u00e2\u20ac\u009d rather than acknowledging their medical condition.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Self-stigma<\/strong> stems from the person living with a mental health condition. If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re struggling with your mental health, you might feel shame or blame yourself for these feelings, which can be harmful to your well-being. For example, this could look like negative self-talk, like saying to yourself, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s my fault I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m dealing with depression, so it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not worth getting help.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>But how exactly is stigma a barrier? The effects of mental health stigma are multi-fold. Negative and shameful opinions surrounding mental health can do the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Discourage people from seeking the help they deserve<\/li>\n<li>Discourage empathy for and support of people dealing with mental health conditions<\/li>\n<li>Limit people\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s access to housing, jobs, insurance, or social experiences<\/li>\n<li>Encourage violence and discrimination against people with mental health conditions<\/li>\n<li>Harm individuals\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 self-worth and confidence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Read More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/mental-health-matters-8-stigmatizing-phrases-to-stop-using-050715\">If You Want to Advocate for Mental Health, Stop Using These Phrases<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Who Suffers the Most?<\/h2>\n<p>Anyone can feel shame surrounding mental health and needing help. Some groups of people, in particular, weather the effects of stigmas based on cultural, generational, and economic factors. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/the-stigma-around-mens-mental-health\/\">men are less likely to seek support<\/a> for mental health conditions, meaning men\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mental health needs often go untreated and can lead to depression and suicide \u00e2\u20ac\u201c the leading cause of death among men. Additionally, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/mental-health-stigma-contributes-to-high-veteran-suicide-rate\/\">veterans and military personnel<\/a> often do not receive mental health care and suffer from untreated conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Combating shame around mental health is crucial for everyone, but recognizing populations most at risk for mental health barriers makes getting the support you and your loved ones deserve that much easier.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2>Ways to Overcome Stigma<\/h2>\n<p>Overcoming mental health stigmas might sound like a significant feat, but little actions make a big difference. Knowing where and how stigmas present themselves is the first step, but taking action is the next. Here are a few places you can start:<\/p>\n<h3>Education Is King<\/h3>\n<p>The best way you can combat mental health stigmas is to educate yourself and others. As the World Health Organization notes, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Stigma is often framed in terms of mental health literacy. By correcting misinformation about mental health conditions, the theory goes, you reduce prejudice and make it less likely for someone to discriminate.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Improving your knowledge base and awareness equips you to help others, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/11-organizations-that-challenge-mental-health-stigma-0526167\">organizations and communities<\/a>, do the same and shut down harmful beliefs about mental health.<\/p>\n<h3>Talk Openly<\/h3>\n<p>The more you confide in others and share your mental health experiences, the easier it is to push past feelings of embarrassment and support others. By talking openly and honestly about mental health, you can normalize mental health treatment and choose empowerment over shame.<\/p>\n<h3>Lead With Compassion and Equality<\/h3>\n<p>Reducing stigma means increasing understanding. By advocating for compassionate, equal access to mental health, you can reduce the shame that keeps people from getting help.<\/p>\n<h3>Put Yourself First<\/h3>\n<p>Removing barriers to mental health increases access for everyone \u00e2\u20ac\u201c including yourself! Prioritizing your well-being is the best form of self-love, and therapists are there to help.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Read More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/why-should-i-go-to-therapy-9-signs-its-time-to-see-a-therapist\">Not Sure If It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Time to Go to Therapy? We Can Help<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Seeking Help Is the Answer<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/why-is-it-so-hard-to-ask-for-help-0616164\">Asking for help<\/a> is not a sign of weakness. Actually, it can be comforting to know that you can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t do everything alone, and humans thrive on supporting one another. Seeking support from a therapist or counselor means you prioritize your well-being and want tools to feel better. Keep the following in mind if feelings of self-doubt creep in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It is not weak to ask for support<\/li>\n<li>You don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have to do everything independently all the time<\/li>\n<li>You aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t a victim: you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re an advocate for yourself<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Addressing the barriers to mental health will forge the way for a more equitable, accepting, healthier future, and little steps make a huge impact in breaking down stigmas. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/find-therapist.html\">Find the right therapist for you<\/a> through GoodTherapy and know that you are not alone: there is help for you.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Resources:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/hbr.org\/2023\/07\/why-its-so-hard-to-ask-for-help\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Why It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s so Hard to Ask for Help<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/europe\/news\/item\/26-06-2024-the-overwhelming-case-for-ending-stigma-and-discrimination-in-mental-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">World Health Organization<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7444121\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Library of Medicine: Men and Mental Stigma<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/odep\/ada\/MythsandFacts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Americans With Disabilities Act<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/mental-health\/stigma\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Mental Health Stigma<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC8693212\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Library of Medicine: Trends in Public Stigma of Mental Illness in the US, 1999-2018<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The importance of and demand for mental health services is discussed everywhere: in news headlines, media copy, books, podcasts, and even workplaces. While recent years have shown an improvement in public sentiments around mental health, stigma around getting help still persists in many forms. One recent study found that prejudices and discrimination surrounding depression, for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3218,"featured_media":43964,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1879,623,2259,1838],"tags":[2428,2424,2429,1852,2419,2432,2422,2431,2430,2427,2418,2135,2425,2420,2426,885,2423,2434,2421,2433],"class_list":["post-43962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-personal-growth","category-issues-treated","category-mental-health-in-the-workplace","category-self-concept","tag-breaking-stigma","tag-depression-stigma","tag-emotional-well-being","tag-mental-health-advocacy","tag-mental-health-awareness","tag-mental-health-conversations","tag-mental-health-education","tag-mental-health-equality","tag-mental-health-journey","tag-mental-health-resources","tag-mental-health-stigma","tag-mental-health-support","tag-mental-illness-myths","tag-overcoming-stigma","tag-seeking-therapy","tag-self-acceptance","tag-self-care-tips","tag-stigma-and-mental-health","tag-therapy-benefits","tag-therapy-support"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3218"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43962"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43962\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43964"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43962"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.goodtherapy.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}