Stigma Towards Mental Illness: A Concept Analysis Using Postpartum Depression as an Exemplar

Abstract

Stigma towards mental illness is poorly understood, often unrecognized by nurses, and impacts both treatment seeking behavior and treatment adherence. Stigma towards mental illness is a serious issue in all cultures and ethnicities, and has a detrimental impact on an individual's functioning in all life domains. The aim of this analysis is to clarify the modern use of the concept of stigma towards mental illness, using the Walker and Avant concept analysis method, with postpartum depression as the exemplar. The second aim is to promote further dialogue about stigma in nursing. This analysis provides a foundation for further concept exploration in nursing, and generates hypotheses to be tested in various populations and circumstances. Nursing interventions, implications for research, and further concept development are discussed.