The stigma of psychiatric treatment and help-seeking intentions for depression

Aims: The stigma of mental illness has often been considered a potential cause for reluctant willingness to seek help for mental problems, but there is little evidence on this issue. We examine two aspects of stigma related to seeing a psychiatrist and their association with help-seeking intentions for depression: anticipated discrimination by others when seeking help and desire for social distance from those seeking help. Methods: Representative population survey in Germany 2007 (n=2303), containing a depression vignette with a question on readiness to seek psychiatric care for this problem, a focus group devel…