Association between mental health-related stigma and active help-seeking: systematic review and meta-analysis.
BackgroundMental disorders create high individual and societal costs and burden, partly because help-seeking is often delayed or completely avoided. Stigma related to mental disorders or mental health services is regarded as a main reason for insufficient help-seeking.AimsTo estimate the impact of four stigma types (help-seeking attitudes and personal, self and perceived public stigma) on active help-seeking in the general population.MethodA systematic review of three electronic databases was followed by random effect meta-analyses according to the stigma types.ResultsTwenty-seven studies fulfilled eligibility criteria. Participants' own negative attitudes towards mental health help-seeking (OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.73-0.88) and their stigmatising attitudes towards people with a mental illness (OR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.69-0.98) were associated with less active help-seeking. Self-stigma showed insignificant association (OR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.76-1.03), whereas perceived public stigma was not associated.ConclusionsPersonal attitudes towards mental illness or help-seeking are associated with active help-seeking for mental problems. Campaigns promoting help-seeking by means of fighting mental illness-related stigma should target these personal attitudes rather than broad public opinions.
Nina Schnyder, MSc, University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern; Radoslaw Panczak, PhD, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern; Nicola Groth, Dipl Psych, Frauke Schultze-Lutter, PhD, University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland nina.schnyder@kjp.unibe.ch.
Nina
N
Schnyder
Nina Schnyder, MSc, University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern; Radoslaw Panczak, PhD, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern; Nicola Groth, Dipl Psych, Frauke Schultze-Lutter, PhD, University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Radoslaw
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Panczak
Nina Schnyder, MSc, University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern; Radoslaw Panczak, PhD, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern; Nicola Groth, Dipl Psych, Frauke Schultze-Lutter, PhD, University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Nicola
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Groth
Nina Schnyder, MSc, University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern; Radoslaw Panczak, PhD, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern; Nicola Groth, Dipl Psych, Frauke Schultze-Lutter, PhD, University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Frauke
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Schultze-Lutter
D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D057545:Social Stigma