The stigma around mental illness is primarily rooted in the views of society. Public stigma focuses on the stereotype that anyone with a mental illness is incompetent, weak, or simply crazy. Though this is not true about individuals with mental illness it does cause people to often be dishonest about their feelings or thoughts in which they are afraid of facing this public stigma and the label of being mentally ill within society. The reason I believe there is so much stigma associated with mental illness is that many are uneducated about certain mental illnesses and how they are represented. Not only does the media exaggerate the portrayal of many mental illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder but they also often reflect individuals with mental illnesses as delusional and unstable. These depictions can lead many to believe that if one has a mental illness that they are indeed crazy and incapable of acting normal though this creates a stigma and ultimately makes individuals who may need mental health treatment more afraid to seek it. Without these exaggerations in movies or TV shows it is possible that these stereotypes around individuals with mental illness could be diminished. 

Factors that I believe contribute to self-stigma include social norms as well as the fear of being labeled as mentally ill. Things like laughing at someone who is disabled or mocking an individual’s mental illness through terrible are some common behaviors among adolescents. Though it depends on the individual and their humor it is still something that creates a stigma around mental illness and someone with disabilities. These behaviors can make individuals scared to own up to how they are feeling in fear of turning into a joke or being treated differently because of something that is out of their control. Another factor that contributes to self-stigma is label avoidance. This is defined as the fear of being labeled as mentally ill. Though it is just a label or a diagnosis, having to explain to some people that you have anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or any other mental illness can create a sense of fear of them treating you differently based on your diagnosis. Both this concept of label avoidance as well as the public stigma can create a self-stigma so strong that fewer individuals seek the help they need.