Relating to Others with Mental Illness

Summary of Findings

Research Aims
This study explored the potential for two different strategies to reduce self-stigma and improve
self-esteem and self-efficacy in people with mental illness.
Self-stigma occurs when people with mental illness believe harmful myths about mental illness
and apply these myths to themselves. For example, when people with mental illness believe
that they are to blame for their illness and that they are dangerous, unpredictable, incompetent,
and unable to ever recover. Self-stigma in people with mental illness is associated with reduced
quality of life and exacerbated symptoms, making it essential that researchers develop effective
strategies and interventions to combat self-stigma.
The first strategy under investigation in this study was related to the effect of contact with peers
with mental illness. Specifically, it explored whether participants who have more contact with
other individuals with mental illness who act in ways which challenge stereotypes (myths) report
lower levels of self-stigma compared to participants who have contact with other individuals who
act in ways which support stereotypes.
The second strategy under investigation was related to contact with individuals without mental
illness. Specifically, it explored whether participants who have more contact with individuals
without mental illness who express supportive views of mental illness report lower levels of self-
stigma compared to participants who have more contact with individuals who express negative
views.

Research Methods
To investigate these research aims, the study recruited individuals with a lived experience with
mental illness through Facebook advisements posted between June and August, 2018. The
study was completed by 1,037 (54% female, 42.3% male, 3.7% other) eligible participants. Most
participants were born in Australia, spoke English as their primary language, and had
Anglo/British heritage. Participants ranged in age from 18 and 75 years; the average age was
33.95 years.
After providing some demographic information, the participants completed a questionnaire
measuring variables including self-stigma, self-esteem, and self-efficacy.

Results and Implications

The study found that:

 Participants who knew more peers with a mental illness who challenged negative
stereotypes about mental illness reported lower self-stigma than participants who knew
more peers who supported negative stereotypes.
 Participants who knew more individuals without mental illness who expressed supportive
views of mental illness had lower self-stigma, as well as higher self-esteem and self-

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 efficacy, compared to participants who knew more individuals who expressed negative
views of mental illness.
These results highlight the importance of people with mental illness having good role models
with mental illness to interact with. When people with mental illness demonstrate through their
behaviour that myths about mental illness are inaccurate, this reduces self-stigma in others with
mental illness.
The results also highlight how important it is that members of the public, and especially the
friends and family of people with mental illness, express positive and supportive views of mental
illness. This can have a direct impact on the self-stigma, self-esteem, and self-efficacy of people
with mental illness.
These results provide an opportunity for researchers to develop effective interventions to reduce
self-stigma in people with mental illness, but more experimental research still needs to be done.
This study was conducted by Rachel Maunder (PhD Student) and Professor Fiona White
(Supervisor) at the University of Sydney. The study was approved by the University of Sydney
Human Research Ethics Committee (Protocol Number: 2018/193). For more information about
the study, please contact Rachel at rachel.maunder@sydney.edu.au.

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