2/15/25
Cultural beliefs about mental illness can strongly affect mental health by shaping how people view and deal with mental illness, whether they seek help, and what kind of support they receive.
Stigma around mental illness exists in many cultures, causing individuals to hide their symptoms or avoid treatment due to fear of shame or judgment from their community.
Strict gender roles can also impact behavior, leading to stress or challenges in expressing certain feelings. Gender norms in mental health include expecting women to be submissive or ancillary and males to be emotionless, tough and strong can lead to mental health issues. Some cultural traditions related to grief can be beneficial for mental health, such as taking time off from work or school to mourn a loved one.
Despite growing discussions about mental health, stigma remains common globally.
Examples of cultural stigma in mental health include how mental health conditions are viewed and portrayed in media, often depicting them as violent or dangerous, which can lead to increased shame, less treatment-seeking behavior, and poorer outcomes.
Stigma can also affect the families of those with mental illnesses, leading to discrimination that diminishes family support.
As a society, we can stop choosing to support or reinforce these types of norms in order to improve mental health outcomes.
By: Evan Redmond, Pharm.D.
