Self-stigma is an internalized stigma that eats away at our self-esteem, self-efficacy and self-concept. Feelings of shame and guilt often come with self-stigma, when we are led to believe that we have broken some unwritten code about what it means to be a full member of society (Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, 2018).

Nadler & Fisher (1986) argued that people perceive themselves as weak, inferior and inadequate for seeking psychological help due to internalized negative perceptions. Other researchers have also found out that people can internalize negative perceptions when dealing with mental health issues (Link, 1987; Link & Phelan, 2001) and that being labeled mentally ill can lead to lower self-esteem (Link, Struening, Neese-Todd, Asmussen, & Phelan, 2001).

Vogel, Wade & Haake (2006) state that literature on self-stigma and help seeking suggests that the stigma that is attached to mental illness has influenced people’s perception on seeking help for psychological issues. Whereas the stigma attached to being a mental health patient may not be the same as the stigma associated with being a counseling client, researchers have found that people tend to report more stigma surrounding counseling clients than non-clients (Vogel, Wade & Haake, 2006).

Researchers studying self-stigma have identified two theories to explain self-stigma. One of the theories is the Erving Goffman’s (1963) theory on stigma as analyzed by Perez (2014) to explain what stigma is. The theory states that stigma is a spoilt identity. That stigma is the situation of the individual who is disqualified from full social acceptance due to a condition that he/she may have such as a mental health issue. Vogel et al., (2017) identified the modified labeling theory as the theory that explains how self-stigma occurs. According to modified labeling theory, individuals labeled with a stigmatizing identity, such as needing to seek help, are likely to internalize the devalued aspects of that identity and avoid or withdraw from situations that highlight the stigmatizing identity (Vogel et al., 2017).

Reference

Link, B. G. (1987). Understanding labeling effects in the area of mental disorders: An assessment of the effects of expectations of rejection. American Sociological Review, 52(1), 96-112.Retrieved from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2095395

Link,G.B,&Phelan,J.C.(2001).Conceptualizing Stigma.Annual Review of Sociology.Vol 27:1, Pages 363-385.Retrived from https://www.annualreviews.org/action/showCitFormats?doi=10.1146%2Fannurev.soc.27.1.363

Link, B.G, Struening,E.L, Neese-Todd.S, Asmussen. S, Phelan. J.C, .(2001).Stigma as a barrier to recovery: The consequences of stigma for the self-esteem of people with mental illnesses. Psychiatr Serv. 2001 Dec;52(12):1621-6 Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11726753

Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.(2018).Self Stigma.Victoria University of Wellington. Disability services. Retrievedfrom:http://www.mentalhealth.org.nz/file/downloads/pdf/Fighting-Shadows.pdf

Nadler,A & Fisher,J. (1986). The Role of Threat to Self-Esteem and Perceived Control in Recipient Reaction to Help: Theory Development and Empirical Validation. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology. 19. 81-94. 10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60213-0.Retrieved From:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264894668_The_Role_of_Threat_to_SelfEsteem

Perez, C. (2014).Revising Erving Goffman’s Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity by Cristina Perez. Retrieved From: https://sahncambridge.wordpress.com/2014/07/01/revisiting-erving-goffmans-stigma-notes-on-the-management-of-spoiled-identity-by-cristina-perez/

Vogel.D.L, Wade.N.G and Haake.S.(2006). Measuring the Self-Stigma Associated With Seeking Psychological Help. Journal of Counseling Psychology. Vol. 53, No. 3, 325–337.Retrieved From: DOI: 10.1037/0022-0167.53.3.325

Vogel, David & Strass, Haley & Heath, Patrick & Al-Darmaki, Fatima & I. Armstrong, Patrick & Baptista, Makilim & Brenner, Rachel & Gonçalves, Marta & Lannin, Dan & Liao, Hsin-Ya & Mackenzie, Corey & Mak, Winnie & Rubin, Mark & Topkaya, Nursel & Wade, Nathaniel & Wang, Ying-Fen & Zlati, Alina. (2017). Stigma of Seeking Psychological Services: Examining College Students Across Ten Countries/Regions. The Counseling Psychologist. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=aYGjXIWqOKbIrgSZ8qbYDw&q=Baptista%2C+M.+N.%2C+%26+Zanon%2C+C.+%282017%29.+The+Role+of+Stigma+in+Search+Therapy.Why+not+Seek+Therapy%3F+The+Role+of+Stigma+and+Psychological+Symptoms+in+College+Students.+&btnK=Google+Search&oq=Baptista%2C+M.+N.%2C+%26+Zanon%2C+C.+%282017%29.+The+Role+of+Stigma+in+Search+Therapy.Why+not+Seek+Therapy%3F+The+Role+of+Stigma+and+Psychological+Symptoms+in+College+Students.+&gs_l=psy-ab.3..35i39l6.6867.6867..9253...1.0..0.538.538.5-1......1....2j1..gws-wiz.....6.QLFtwT7qs9M