Stigmatization of Mental Health: Fact or Fiction?

Millions of people in the United States suffer from mental illnesses, and yet not all receive treatment. One possible explanation lies with the stigma attached to mental illness. Individuals may not visit a mental health professional due to negative stereotypes, abstaining from critical and essential treatment. Using data from the 2013 Integrated Health Interview Series, I find evidence that there are significant differences in rates of mental health utilization. This reveals the possible stigmatization of mental illnesses, specifically among individuals who identify as male, not-white, and do not live in the Northeast (these individuals utilize mental health services significantly less than other respondents).