Why is fighting stigma important?

• 1 in 6 adults and 1 in 5 children have a diagnosable
mental illness.

• Up to 2/3 of people with a mental illness never
seek treatment because of stigma.

• Stigma influences up to 2/3 of people in
treatment to drop out.

• Stigma creates feelings of isolation, shame,
and in some cases, the stress of these things
can exacerbate the illness.

• Stigma perpetuates discrimination in housing,
employment, and social interaction.

• Evidence suggests that stigma is actually getting
worse, not better.

• The effects of stigma