Stigma towards mental illness in South Asian communities: A summary of three studies

Social workers work with many disadvantaged and stigmatised groups. People with mental health problems have been stigmatised for centuries. In the last few decades attempts have been made to reduce levels of stigma in the general population, such as with the Time to Change program in the United Kingdom. Yet, there is so much about stigma we still do not understand, which has been referred to by Smith as stigma’s ‘dark matter.’ For instance, how do levels of stigma vary among different cultures? In this paper we consider what affects stigma in South Asian populations. After a short review of the literature in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and India, we describe three studies we have conducted in this area. The first was a quantitative online survey, that used a previously published vignette to assess elements of stigma in 425 participants. The second comprised interviews with 15 people of South Asian heritage. The third was a community engagement event which brought together 99 mental health professionals and community activists for a hybrid educational event. The three studies are presented and discussed. Some tentative conclusions are offered