Hide or Seek? The Effect of Causal and Treatability Information on Stigma and Willingness to Seek Psychological Help

Abstract

Many individuals suffering from psychological disorders do not receive professional help, partly due to the highly stigmatizing nature of mental illness. The current research examined whether the informational model of mental illness, specifically perceived causal attributions and treatability, impacts stigma and willingness to seek professional help. The results indicate that biological attributions, regardless of the presence or absence of treatability information, can reduce stereotypes about the mentally ill, lower help-seeking stigma, and increase willingness to seek a psychiatrist, compared to psychosocial attributions. The decrease in help-seeking stigma accounts for the effect of attributions on willingness to seek help. Furthermore, an individual's mental health history interacts with the type of informational model to impact the likelihood of managing symptoms on one's own without professional help.