Stigma discourages people from getting help . At any given time, one in four adults and one in five children experience a mental health problem. Early and appropriate services can be the best way to prevent an illness from getting worse. Stigma keeps people from getting good jobs and advancing in the workplace . Some employers are reluctant to hire people who have mental illnesses.
Stigma leads to fear, mistrust, and violence .
Even though the vast majority of people who have mental illnesses are no more violent than anyone else, the average television viewer sees three people with mental illnesses each week-and most of them are portrayed as violent. Such inaccurate portrayals lead people to fear those who have mental illnesses. Stigma results in prejudice and discrimination . Many individuals try to prevent people who have mental illnesses from living in their neighborhoods. Stigma results in inadequate insurance coverage .