Panel Discussion 10 - Dismantling Mental Health Stigma Among Clinical Psychologists: How We Are Part of the Problem, and What We Can Do to Address It

Stigma faced by people with psychopathology negatively impacts their sense of self, symptom severity, health care, and access to legal rights and privileges. Although clinical psychologists are uniquely positioned to combat mental health stigma – given their intersecting roles as clinicians, researchers, educators, advocates, and in many cases, recipients of mental health services – the field has rarely reflected on how psychologists, themselves, may perpetuate stigma. Both survey and experimental research show that psychologists hold similar negative stereotypes and prejudices toward people with psychopathology as non-psychologists. Within the field, psychologists with lived experience of psychopathology may be at risk of prejudice and discrimination for disclosing their experiences, and how it may relate to their work. As a result, clinical psychology may be inadvertently silencing the voices of psychologists with psychopathology—who can leverage their lived experiences to make key advancements in developing and refining cognitive-behavioral therapies.
This panel will highlight how addressing mental health stigma is essential to conducting rigorous, relevant research; developing and disseminating effective interventions; and creating inclusive paths for providers with lived experience to thrive in our field. Specifically, we will explore how stigma manifests among psychologists across different contexts (e.g., clinical care, research, supervision) and training levels. We will discuss how stigma among psychologists – including towards psychologists with psychopathology – ultimately harms the missions of clinical psychology to understand, treat, and de-stigmatize mental health difficulties. Panelists span diverse backgrounds, research areas, clinical interests, and current professional roles (e.g., graduate student, staff psychologist, faculty, Director of Clinical Training), while sharing a commitment to reducing stigma towards psychopathology. Panelists will draw upon their research, clinical practice, advocacy, and lived experiences to identify actionable strategies that can address mental illness stigma in the clinic, the lab, the classroom, and the community.