Key facts from the Scottish Mental Illness Stigma Study

• SMISS identified experiences of stigma and discrimination faced across 14 life areas by people who reported living with severe, complex and/or enduring mental illness in Scotland. Two of the life areas are healthcare and mental healthcare.
• 77% reported receiving inappropriate or inadequate healthcare, due to stigma about their mental health
• 72% reported being unfairly denied help for physical health problems
• 62% reported being unfairly referred to, or discharged out of, physical healthcare services before being ready
• 87% reported avoiding asking for help from healthcare professionals, and avoiding asking for help for physical health problems (85%) due to stigma and discrimination about their mental illness
• 55% reported having withdrawn early from healthcare services
• 52% reported stopping themselves obtaining prescriptions or taking medication for physical health problems
• 51% reported having avoided calling an ambulance or attending A&E for their physical health
• Close to half (49%) reported avoiding attending general health check-ups (e.g. vaccinations, breast screening or prostate screening), due to stigma and discrimination about their mental health
• 81% reported withdrawing from discussion of mental health needs and experiences when accessing help from healthcare professionals
• Only one quarter (26%) of respondents to this life area agreed they have had positive experiences due to their mental illness
• Stigma and discrimination had also been experienced due to respondents age (46%), sex (45%) and physical disability (30%). Three quarters (75%) of respondents agreed that they should receive additional consideration when accessing and using physical healthcare services
• Some respondents commented about a variety of healthcare services including GP practices, physiotherapy, gynaecology, pharmacology, accident and emergency, dentistry and reproductive health. Some raised the stigmatised and stereotyped identities which influenced healthcare workers’ perceptions of them, describing these identities as degrading or dehumanising. Another common theme was unmet physical health needs (as a result of the attribution of physical symptoms to mental illness without proper assessment, or physical health needs being neglected due to mental health). Some reflected on their relationships with healthcare staff and spoke of being treated without care, compassion, respect, belief, or validation within these. Others commented on issues with transparency, confidentiality, and communication.

In relation to mental healthcare, the study found that: The impact is people not reaching out for help when they need it

• 81% reported having been unfairly denied help for their mental illness(es)
• 63% have been unfairly excluded from having a say in decisions about their care and treatment planning
• 81% expect to be treated unfairly when trying to get help for their mental illness
• 80% have stopped themselves from getting help for their mental illness
• 58% have stopped themselves from calling 999 for an ambulance or going to hospital for emergency mental healthcare when in crisis.