Despite the prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders, the “stigma” of mental illness can prevent people from reaching out and getting the help they need, even from their own families. In fact, approximately 60 percent of adults with a mental illness don’t receive any mental health services.
So, what contributes to the stigma surrounding mental illness? The list is long, but one of the biggest factors is misinformation about mental health conditions and those who suffer from them. A survey published in 2015 found that only 7% of respondents from developed countries believed that mental illness could be overcome. With these kinds of misconceptions, it’s easy to see why stigma surrounding mental health is rampant.
When we asked survey participants to rate how informed they were about mental illness on a scale of 1 (least informed) to 5 (most informed), the average response was 3.5, meaning that the average person considers himself or herself only slightly informed about mental illness.
Mississippi came in at the high end of the spectrum with an average of 4.2,, considering itself the most knowledgeable state on the subject of mental illness; however, when it comes to access to mental health care considered alongside the prevalence of mental illness, Mississippi ranks 43rd in the nation: the state spent just $56 per capita per year on mental health services.
On the flipside, South Dakota, which ranked itself the least knowledgeable state, is actually in the top 10 when it comes to treatment for mental health. And while it’s possible that Mississippians really are the most informed, another explanation may be the Dunning-Kruger effect, which demonstrates that those who are the worst at something are also the worst at estimating their own ability (i.e., they think they’re much better than they are).