In fact, some reported to us that taking medication itself stigmatized them. The need to take medications such as Prozac revealed their illnesses and led to rejection and ridicule. There are certainly differing views from culture to culture. However, while some manifestations of what might be called mental illness in one culture may be more accepted in another culture, even revered, it is almost universal that, once one is labeled or identified as having a mental disorder, however defined in that culture, they are subject to negative public attitudes about them and hurtful behavior toward them. Stigma damages self-esteem, leads to rejection and avoidance just at a time when the person especially needs support and acceptance.
Stigma discourages people from making efforts and damages their own confidence in themselves.
Stigma certainly makes the illness more difficult to recover from. When a person with mental illness commits a violent crime, it invariably makes the news. When a person with mental illness lives a law-abiding, productive life it doesn't make the news. The media make it appear that violence is common or even characteristic of mental illness. They are more likely to be victims than perpetrators of crimes.