How does depression stigma affect society?

What do you think of when you hear the term “mental health?” Many people may think of negative, pre-conceived notions of what they perceive a mental health disorder to look like. Others might think of their own experiences or conditions. 

No matter what comes to mind, however, there is something else that everyone should consider—stigma. 

Stigma can affect everyone, regardless of gender, ability, sexual orientation or age. Understanding the implications of stigma around mental health conditions (such as depression) can lead to a more empathetic and understanding societal experience. 

Read on to learn more about depression, related stigma and possible societal implications.  

What is stigma?

In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, stigma is defined as "a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something." 

With this definition in mind, many believe that one of the biggest problems with stigma may be that it's not usually based on the truth. As a result, people and groups can become invalidated and marginalized for no sound or logically based reason. We can see this with society’s stigma around mental health and a range of conditions—such as bipolar disorder or depression. 

In his book, Transforming Stigma, author Mike Veny describes that three things are typically included in stigma. He states that they can include stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. He goes on to explain that "Stereotypes are related to thoughts; prejudice comes from feelings; discrimination relates to a person's behavior." However, all three can form into what we know today as stigma, taking place in a range of tangible forms. 

For example: Say someone believes that a person with depression can only act in a certain way, adhering to a singular set of physical or psychological symptoms. People who learn of this and might live with depression may feel invalidated or prompted to stop seeking treatment—possibly believing that they aren’t worthy of being supported. 

Additionally, their previous thoughts and stereotypes about depression cause them to feel embarrassed about their symptoms and experiences. As a result, instead of finding help, they deny their symptoms, causing them to get worse as they try to manage their symptoms silently or self-medicate at home.

Mike Veny goes on in his book to explain that "The effect of stigma on those who could benefit from help is devastating, and it's something that needs to change. With nearly 66% of people with a diagnosable mental illness not seeking out treatment, society is suffering from stigma, and people are not able to live their lives to the fullest because of it”. 

Whom does stigma hurt?

The stigma around mental health can hurt any person who has been diagnosed with depression or other mental health conditions. However, the effects can also extend beyond this scope.

The stigma around depression can affect society in its entirety. There are a range of ways in which this can happen. The first is that if they believe the stigma themselves, possibly leads to feelings of shame about what they are going through.  It can also impact the way that they're able to communicate with other people, as well as their perception of the world around them. 

Depression stigma can also hurt those who don't have depression. It can cause people to experience unnecessary fear and nervousness about mental health in life. It can also cause them to potentially hurt friends and family who they love and who are managing depression. 

Lastly, it can lead them to miss out on what could be fulfilling and meaningful friendships and relationships if they choose to avoid certain people or situations. 

By allowing the stigma to continue, society could be preventing people from getting the help that they need—no matter what condition or experience they are living with.

Depression can be a treatable disorder in many. There are multiple forms of treatment that can be indicated depending on a person’s symptomatic experience, including traditional medicine and holistic approaches. Speaking with a physician and a therapist can help you understand how you can best support yourself during this time, both physically and emotionally. 

How do we end the stigma?

So, how do we put an end to the depression stigma? 

A helpful first step can be to realize that you can make a difference in ending the stigma—especially when you have accurate and evidence-based knowledge on your side. If you haven’t already done so, it can be helpful to learn what science has to say regarding depression or other mental health conditions. You may also benefit from learning how to spot the myths related to the condition, allowing you to separate them from the facts.

If you live with depression yourself, a helpful first step may be learning how to overcome the stigma that you may believe or may have internalized. This step can possibly help you to feel able to get the help that you need without feeling ashamed or embarrassed. 

With the help of a mental health professional, you can learn effective coping mechanisms that can empower you to reach a higher quality of life. 

We need to change our words

Knowledge isn’t the only step required in order to change the stigma around depression and related mental health conditions. Vocabulary and applying the knowledge to create a respectful and accurate conversation is an important complementary step. 

If you're guilty of using labels with depression or mental health, it can be important to recognize that those behaviors are quickly becoming outdated. It doesn't matter if you're using those words for yourself or other people—they can be damaging to society's beliefs around depression and mental health, possibly encouraging an attitude of internalized stigma within yourself or others. 

Instead, you can commit to eliminating these labels from your vocabulary. Learning the correct terms for mental health disorders and the correct way to use them can be a helpful start for many.

Some examples can include saying things like “mental health challenge” instead of “mental illness.” Using other, more accurate and descriptive phrases can be a small change for many that could make a big difference for all.

This change isn’t just occurring on an individual plane. The medical and mental health industry is also working to transform the way that society talks about people with conditions. 

For example, many recommend using “people-first language.” This allows you to assign the highest value in a phrase or sentence to the person, seeing them as more than a temporary or long-term condition that they are living with. 

An example of this could be: Instead of saying "She's depressed," you could instead say "She is living with depression." This is a slight change, but it puts the person first. It shows that they have a diagnosis—and not that they are the diagnosis.

Call it out if you see someone feeding the stigma

With knowledge and an attitude of empathy, you may find that you're easily able to recognize when others are acting in it. If you notice this, there is nothing wrong with politely correcting the person. You can choose to help educate others about depression and the importance of putting an end to the stigma that surrounds it, rather than allow others to perpetuate possibly harmless attitudes.

This can also be important to do when it comes to media—such as books and movies. Many people might believe what they see in the media, so if they're constantly hearing things that are feeding the stigma around mental health and depression, they may be more receptive to those beliefs.

If you see movies, coverage or posts on social media that stigmatize depression, you don't have to be afraid to reach out to address the situation. You never know who you could be helping by doing so.

How can online therapy support those living with depression?

If you’re experiencing depression, we encourage you to seek support that can elevate your quality of life. Online therapy is a strong example of a supportive step you could take. It can be a helpful resource if you find that internalized stigma or depression itself has made it difficult for you to leave the home, connecting you to support from your house or any other safe space. 

BetterHelp offers online counseling so you can get started anywhere you have an internet connection and a smartphone, tablet, or computer. 

Is online therapy effective? 

Many studies have shown that online therapy can be just as effective in treating depression as in-person therapy. It is also generally more affordable and convenient for most.

A meta-analysis published in The Lancet found evidence from over 7+ studies that suggested that eCBT was just as effective as CBT conducted in person—and noted that patients reported a long-term decrease in depression-related symptoms after the treatment regimen(s) had concluded.