Abstract
Mental illness-related stigma is a pervasive issue that permeates every facet of psychiatric care. This phenomenon, which manifests at the societal or structural, individual, and public levels, presents a barrier to equitable and compassionate care in the U.S. healthcare system, leading to care avoidance and poor health outcomes. This systematic review aims to synthesize evidence on the forms of mental health stigma within the U.S. healthcare setting and identify strategies that foster compassionate care among healthcare professionals. Following PRISMA guidelines, a methodical search of peer-reviewed literature published between 2015 and 2025 was conducted in three databases – APA PsychInfo, CINAHL and PubMed. Studies that met the inclusion criteria were included in the review. Stigma was discovered to manifest in various forms – structurally as underfunding and/or neglect of mental healthcare services; interpersonally as stereotyping, discrimination, disrespect, and stigma towards professionals working with people with mental illnesses; and intrapersonally as reluctance to seek help and provider self-stigma. These lead to disregard for patient autonomy and the provision of non-compassionate care on the providers’ end, as well as care avoidance and worsening of health outcomes for individuals with mental disorders. Stigma was also discovered to intersect with race, disproportionately affecting people of color, especially Black people. Interventions, including education-based, contact-based or blended strategies, consistently reduced health provider bias and stereotyping, as well as improved empathy towards individuals with mental illnesses. Overall, professionals were empowered to provide compassionate care. Nonetheless, stigma related to self-disclosure among providers persisted.
Area of Specialization
Social Sciences
Recommended Citation
Awosan, Wuraola R.; Akinyosoye, Fredrick O.; Moyo, Perseverance N.; Titus-Okpanachi, Akuchinyere O.; Morales, Giordana; and Clottey, Emmanuel N.
(2025)
"Mental Health Stigma: Promoting Compassionate Care in the U.S. Healthcare System,"
Montview Journal of Research & Scholarship: Vol. 12, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/montview/vol12/iss1/4
