How to End the Stigma of Depression and Its Impact

Mental health stigma is a serious problem that still affects many individuals, workplaces, family and friendship dynamics. And an important part of breaking down stigma of depression is diminishing the misunderstandings that follow it. The charity, Mind, found that around half of UK adults still believe there is a lot of stigma and shame around mental health conditions, with 48 citing depression as one of the most stigmatised.

To battle the stigma surrounding depression, we need to understand where it comes from, what is the initial root cause of it and how our attitudes are changing over time. With this, we can set out to end depression stigma in both our personal and professional lives.

What causes depression stigma?

Depression stigma is caused by a number of things such as societal beliefs around depression (and mental health as a whole), ignorance, its portrayal in the media, a lack of understanding and our personal experiences with it (or a lack thereof).

In society:

Sadly, attitudes towards depression and mental illness are still stigmatised in society. Some believe people “choose” to be depressed, or are even seen those suffering with depression as “unreliable”. Men’s mental health in particular is stigmatised in the same manner.

In the media:

Portrayals of depression in film and TV can add to the stigma when symptoms are hyper exaggerated or attributed to other negative beliefs.

The world of work:

Many expect their people to function at their best 100% of the time which for the vast majority, isn’t possible. Those that experience depression at work may be perceived as unreliable, rude or disengaged.

Cultural background:

Some cultures heavily stigmatise depression, or don’t recognise mental illness altogether, forcing those suffering to isolate themselves and it prevents them seeking support.

Our own beliefs:

We may internalise feelings of depression or poor mental health as ‘bad’, when in reality, it’s an indication that something else may be the cause – such as a series of issues or even a chemical imbalance.

Lack of understanding:

Not knowing what depression really is and how it affects our psyche and even our physical wellbeing.

Misconceptions about depression 

Depression, along with mental health as a whole, is still widely misunderstood. This often leads to people struggling to seek support, let alone have a name for how they’re feeling.

1. Misconception: Depression means you’re just sad

While many can feel sad when they’re depressed or having a depressive episode, they aren’t mutually exclusive. Depression is complex and can manifest in many ways such as low energy levels, poor concentration, isolation and difficulty making decisions.

2. Misconception: Depression is a reaction to a trigger such as a traumatic event

While trauma can lead to depression, there are many reasons why someone may experience it, such as genetics, substance misuse, medication, a physical injury, external pressures and much more.

3. Misconception: Medication is the only treatment for depression

While medication can certainly help some individuals, others may benefit from talking therapy. Things like ensuring a balanced diet, movement, restful sleep and hydration may also contribute to alleviating the feelings of depression.

4. Misconception: Depression only affects women

Depression does not discriminate. Everyone can experience depression regardless of their current gender, or gender assigned at birth.

5. Misconception: You can think your way out of depression

No one chooses to feel depressed or experience depression for a long period of time. Some believe positive thoughts can think your way out of depression, which simply isn’t the case. Depression is medical and can affect all aspects of one’s life, hence why it requires treatment and care.

6. Misconception: Talking about your depression only makes things worse

Talking about the situations and feelings that may be contributing to your depression may feel troubling to bring up, hence why some believe it can make you feel worse. However, confronting the thoughts and feelings is part of the healing journey to help you make sense of depression, as well as be guided on the appropriate path of treatment.

Types of stigma and how this looks with depression

Depression stigma can manifest in various ways. It’s worth understand the names of these and what they mean so you can take the steps to break them down in personal and professional settings. They can also be applied to mental health conditions in general.

1. Self-stigma

As the name implies, self-stigma comes about when an individual holds certain attitudes towards themselves about the depression they’re experiencing. They may feel inferior to their peers, or like they are unable to move past it as quickly as they’d like and feel ‘weak’ as a result.

2. Public stigma

Public stigma is all about how society views a subject. This may manifest itself as stereotyping, discriminating and prejudicial behaviour towards someone with depression.

3. Structural stigma

A workplace may not facilitate or accommodate for those with depression (regardless of whether the episodes are short-lived or chronic). For example, they may not schedule private one-to-ones to check-in with the individual or may not have an Employee Assistance Programme their people can turn to in times of need. Structural stigma may also manifest as a lack of funding in healthcare and education to support those with depression.

4. Health professional stigma

Sadly, some healthcare professionals may hold stigmatising views against depression, and in some cases may not even recognise it as a legitimate concern. When healthcare professionals hold views which stigmatise a topic, it can affect the quality of care and may even discourage individuals from seeking support for depression.

5. Perceived stigma

Perceived stigma is having the belief that others view depression in a negative light. This may cause a depressed individual to lose out on opportunities or not get involved with certain activities, out of fear of how they are perceived.

6. Stigma by association (courtesy stigma)

Stigma by association, also known as courtesy stigma, is where an individual may be perceived negatively due to being associated with someone who has depression. This can extend to family, friends and colleagues.

7. Label stigma

Similarly to self-stigma (and may even go hand-in-hand), label stigma is where an individual may avoid seeking help, to avoid receiving a diagnosis or ‘label’ for depression.

The impact of stigma around depression

Depression stigma can prevent people seeking the help they need. They may minimise how they feel, appear ‘high functioning’ to avoid stigma, isolate themselves or experience a combination of these.

When a person is witness to the stigma surrounding depression or feels the impact of said stigma, they may experience:

• A lack of support

• Negative impacts on their relationships

• Social exclusion

• Reduced self-esteem

• Lack of hope

• Poor work performance

• A lack of employment or opportunities

How to reduce depression stigma and discrimination

Raise awareness

Organisations and their senior leadership teams must realise the importance of raising awareness of how depression and how it can impact others. This can help people feel less stigmatised, as well as normalise coming forward about any struggles they may be facing. You could run workshops on mental health first aid, as well as regularly distribute information surrounding depression and how to get support.

Use inclusive language and be respectful

Saying things like ‘everyone gets depressed’ can minimise a person’s feelings. Be sure to quash any talk like this to encourage inclusivity. Instead, encourage active listening and empathy. You may want to acknowledge someone’s feelings with affirmative statements such as “I’m sorry to hear you’ve been feeling this way” or “That sounds really difficult” – especially when you’re speaking to a friend or family member with depression.

Consider the media you’re consuming and/or distributing

While some shows or social media content may appear amusing at first, it may perpetuate a negative stereotype about depression or other kind of mental illness. Think twice about what you consume and distribute with others, as the latter doesn’t challenge misconceptions and instead normalises poor behaviour.

How can an Employee Assistance Programme help break the stigma of depression?

An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) can play a critical role in breaking the stigma of depression in the workplace by normalising mental health support and making it easily accessible. HA | Wisdom Wellbeing offers counselling, HR, legal and financial support by providing a service that’s accessible 24/7, 365 days a year. Having the EAP is one thing, but actively promoting it within your organisation can really make a difference. That’s why we pride ourselves in our unique monthly content and Wisdom wellbeing app that continuously supports countless lives throughout the nation.

Conclusion

No one should feel stigmatised for experiencing depression. It’s important to empower individuals in your workplace who may be experiencing it to reach out for support, as well as provide accommodations to help ease any worries they might have. By identifying the stigmatic views in your workplace towards depression and mental health as a whole, you can take active steps to break these down within your organisation and make it a pleasant place to work.