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Background

Goffman defined stigma as “an attribute that links a person to an undesirable stereotype, leading other people to reduce the bearer from a whole and usual person to a tainted, discounted one”. 1 (p11) The concept of stigma may vary considerably according to its application in different circumstances. 2 In general, persons with mental illness often encounter social stigma or may suffer from internalised stigma. Social stigma comprises of the reactions of the general public towards the stigmatised group as a result of three main elements: stereotype, prejudice and discrimination, in the presence of social, economic and political differences. 3 It occurs when the public has awareness of negative beliefs about persons with mental illness such as dangerousness (stereotyping), agrees with the beliefs or has negative emotional reactions such as fear (prejudice) and behaves in response to prejudice such as …