TLDR: Stigma Surrounding Mental Illness on College Campuses

This is a research paper written by Katie Powell for a cultural anthropology class that explores how certain demographics view mental health issues and examines the effects of stigmatization of mental illnesses on help seeking behavior. The paper is supposed to be a mock ethnography targeted towards college students and the conclusion is expected results of the study if it were to be carried out based on academic research regarding the stigmas college students have surrounding mental illness.

According to the findings of the paper, college aged men of color, especially African American and Latinx men, are the most likely demographic group to have a negative view towards mental illness and using mental health resources. One explanation for this is that they are the least likely group to have access from a  young age to mental health services. Another explanation is the cultural norm of “machoism” and the belief that young men should ignore their issues because it is not “manly” to suffer from anxiety or depression. 

The dangers of mental health being stigmatized include students' lack of help seeking behavior, a decrease in socializing, inadequate attendance to lectures, lower GPA, and an increase in prescription and non-prescription drug use. Men are more likely than women to self medicate as well as hold more negative views towards mental illnesses due to oppressive societal standards that it is not “manly” to talk about their emotions. Another interesting finding is that political views correlate to stigmatization. Republicans that are “strong right” are more likely than Democrats identifying as “strong left” or “moderate” to hold negative views regarding mental illnesses like anxiety or depression. 

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