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Review
. 2017 Apr;210(4):261-268.
doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.116.189464. Epub 2017 Feb 2.

Association between mental health-related stigma and active help-seeking: systematic review and meta-analysis

Nina Schnyder  1 , Radoslaw Panczak  2 , Nicola Groth  2 , Frauke Schultze-Lutter  2
Affiliations
Review

Association between mental health-related stigma and active help-seeking: systematic review and meta-analysis

Nina Schnyder et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2017 Apr.

Erratum in

  • Correction.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] Br J Psychiatry. 2017 Sep;211(3):184. doi: 10.1192/bjp.211.3.184. Br J Psychiatry. 2017. PMID: 28864760 No abstract available.

Abstract

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.

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Comment in

  • Public anti-stigma programmes might impove help-seeking.
    Evans-Lacko S, Kohrt B, Henderson C, Thornicroft G. Evans-Lacko S, et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2017 Sep;211(3):182. doi: 10.1192/bjp.211.3.182. Br J Psychiatry. 2017. PMID: 28864756 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • Authors' reply.
    Schnyder N, Panczak R, Groth N, Schultze-Lutter F. Schnyder N, et al. Br J Psychiatry. 2017 Sep;211(3):182-183. doi: 10.1192/bjp.211.3.182a. Br J Psychiatry. 2017. PMID: 28864757 No abstract available.

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