|
|
Article: Reducing the stigma of mental illness. (Professional Exchange).
- Article from:
- Journal of Mental Health Counseling
- Article date:
- January 1, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 American Mental Health Counselors Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
In a recent national survey, Pescosolido, Monahan, Link, Stueve, and Kikuzawa (1999) found that while Americans' current knowledge of mental illness is greater than in 1950, Americans continue to fear people with mental illness. Each year, an estimated 50 million Americans will experience a mental disorder while only one fourth of them will seek mental health services (Center for Mental Health Services, [CMHS] 2000). This figure represents about one-third more Americans than those diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. Why do Americans refuse to seek help for mental illness? We contend that this disparity results from the stigma attached to mental illness. Counselors must ...