Mental health literacy

Social stigma is a negative attitude towards a person or group of people based on a perceived difference. Social stigma can have a significant impact on mental health, by:

• Increasing the risk of mental disorders
• Making it difficult to seek help
• Decreasing self-esteem
• Increasing social isolation
• Leading to discrimination

There is a growing body of evidence that shows that mental health literacy can help to reduce social stigma. For example, one study found that people with higher mental health literacy were less likely to believe that people with mental disorders are dangerous or unpredictable.

There are a number of things that can be done to improve mental health literacy, including:

• Educating the public about mental health
• Reducing the stigma associated with mental illness
• Training health professionals in mental health literacy
• Providing mental health first aid training

By improving mental health literacy, we can help to create a more supportive environment for people with mental health problems. This can lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment, which can improve mental health outcomes and reduce the burden of mental illness on individuals, families, and society as a whole.

Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:

• Mental Health America: https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/
• National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/
• World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/mental_health/en/

Mental health literacy is the knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which aid their recognition, management and prevention. It includes understanding the symptoms of mental disorders, the causes of mental disorders, the available treatments, and the importance of seeking help.

Mental health literacy is important because it can help people to:

• Recognize the signs and symptoms of mental disorders in themselves and others
• Make informed decisions about treatment
• Reduce the stigma associated with mental illness
• Seek help when needed