Addressing public Stigma and disparities among persons with mental illness: The role of federal policy

J.R. Cummings, S.M. Lucas and B.G. Druss

American Journal of Public Health, 2013, vol. 103, issue 5, 781-785

Abstract: Stigma against mental illness is a complex construct with affective, cognitive, and behavioral components. Beyond its symbolic value, federal law can only directly address one component of stigma: discrimination. This article reviews three landmark antidiscrimination laws that expanded protections over time for individuals with mental illness. Despite these legislative advances, protections are still not uniform for all subpopulations with mental illness. Furthermore, multiple componentsofstigma (e.g.,prejudice) are beyond the reach of legislation, as demonstrated by the phenomenon of label avoidance; individuals may not seekprotection from discrimination because of fear of the stigma that may ensue after disclosing their mental illness. To yield the greatest improvements, antidiscrimination laws must be coupled with antistigma programs that directly address other components of stigma.

Keywords: civil rights; economics; education; employment; health care delivery; health care disparity; health care policy; health insurance; human; insurance; legal aspect; mental health service; mental patient; patient attitude; psychological aspect; review; social psychology; social stigma; standard; statistics; United States, Civil Rights; Education, Special; Employment; Health Policy; Health Services Accessibility; Healthcare Disparities; Humans; Insurance Coverage; Insurance, Health; Mental Health Services; Mentally Ill Persons; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Prejudice; Social Stigma; United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2013.301224_0

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301224

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