Mental Illness Public Stigma and Treatment Seeking among University Students

While stigma is a complex, multidimensional concept, research regarding mental illness stigma has not been clearly defined or consistently measured across studies, thus limiting the broad application of this research. The current study examined the relationship between several dimensions of public stigma and treatment utilization for mental illness in a university student population. We found significant differences in public stigma endorsement among different treatment utilization groups. Perceptions of dangerousness to others and exclusionary sentiments were the two stigma variables that predicted treatment usage. The implications for using this information about stigma on a university campus are discussed.