Acceptance of mental illness influenced by root cause, new study suggests

21 February 2025

^{People suffering with mental health conditions caused by biological and hereditary factors face higher levels of stigma Credit: whoismargot (pixabay.com)}

A new study has found that people are more accepting of some causes of mental illness than others, with biological and hereditary factors carrying the highest stigma.

The research, led by the UCD School of Psychology and published in Current Psychology, suggests that different explanations for mental health conditions – ranging from life circumstances and personal challenges to biological causes – can shape how people perceive those with psychiatric diagnoses.

Mental illnesses with their underlying causes in biological and hereditary explanations were linked to increased stigma from the public, while those mental health challenges attributed to social and political unrest were more readily accepted.

For the purposes of the study, which investigated attitudes towards mental illness amongst the Irish and UK public, stigma was defined as one’s willingness to interact with an individual with mental illness.

The study found that people were most likely to be tolerant and accepting of mental illnesses caused by “sociopolitical turmoil”, with other societal causes including life circumstances, abuse and relational difficulties shown to have no impact on the levels of stigma.

Its authors have suggested that raising awareness of sociopolitical causes of mental health conditions – such as political instability, natural disasters and war – could promote more tolerant attitudes towards sufferers.

In turn, this may promote support for social justice initiatives that address the root causes of mental health disparities.

“Our findings highlight the importance of raising awareness of the many social factors that can influence mental health, especially those involving social and political unrest,” said Leigh Huggard, a UCD researcher who worked on the study.

“By increasing public understanding of these social determinants, we can help challenge stigma and promote more supportive attitudes towards mental health issues.”

By: Rebecca Hastings, Digital Journalist, UCD University Relations

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