Effective treatment for PTSD and other disorders are available, but these treatments are only helpful if they are sought out by someone with the disorder. Unfortunately, this does not always occur. Among a large group of people with a variety of diagnoses (for example, major depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders), fewer than 30 percent actually sought out treatment. People with PTSD may be particularly reluctant to seek help.
Barriers to Getting Treatment
In one study of 1,387 people with a psychiatric disorder, barriers to getting care included the severity of symptoms experienced, difficulties with daily routines, and abusing alcohol. These findings suggest that, at least for some people, the stigma associated with having a mental illness may prevent them from seeking treatment.
28 percent did not think anyone could help them.28 percent thought their problem was one that they should be able to cope with.17 percent did not think it was necessary to contact a doctor.15 percent thought the problem would get better on its own.13 percent were too embarrassed to discuss the problem with anyone10 percent were afraid of the consequences of seeking help (for example, that they would be hospitalized)
Stigma
Stigma refers to associating negative qualities with having a mental illness. For example, a person with a mental illness may be wrongly viewed (and may even view themselves) as being weak or “damaged.” This perception leads to feelings of shame or embarrassment. Stigma may be particularly pronounced among military service members with a psychological disorder. For example, one study found that among United States service members returning from Bosnia, 61 percent strongly agreed with the idea that disclosing a mental illness would harm their career. In addition, 43 percent strongly believed that admitting to having a psychological condition would cause other people to not want to be around them. Another study of U.S. service members deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan found that beliefs associated with “being weak” and fears of being treated or viewed differently by other people in their unit posed a barrier to seeking treatment for mental health conditions.
What You Need to Remember
Having a psychiatric disorder or a history of mental illness is not a sign of weakness or a reason to feel ashamed. Mental health conditions are common and many of the factors that cause a psychological disorder are completely out of a person’s control. There is no evidence that disorders develop as a result of someone not being strong enough. There are many effective treatments available for mental illness and ways to learn how to cope with your symptoms.
