Suffering from the Disease and Be Offended of: Stigmatization of Individuals with Mental Illnesses in Cameroon

Background: Mental illnesses and types of disorders are reported across cultures, and their burden continues to grow with significant impacts on health and major social, human rights and economic consequences in all countries. There is growing evidence that mental health literacy has improved worldwide in recent years. The question arises as to whether this trend is paralleled by an improvement of attitudes towards people with mental problems.

Objectives: This paper aims at providing an overview on stigmatization towards people with mental illnesses, by examining the way in which mental illnesses are portrayed in Cameroon.

Methods: A trend analysis was carried out using data from a cross-sectional population survey conducted in urban settings of Cameroon in 2014 and 2015. By means of fully structured questionnaires, the questions assessed the presence and intensity of stigmatizing attitudes towards individuals with mental illnesses. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: Empirical findings and qualitative evidence indicate that stigma against mental illnesses remains rampant in Cameroon, constituting a significant barrier to successful treatment, reducing key life opportunities, and predicting poor outcomes over and above the effects of mental illness per se. In fact, individuals with mental illnesses receive harsh stigmatization, resulting in decreased life opportunities and a loss of independent functioning over and above the impairments related to mental disorders themselves.

Learning Objective: Mental health literacy is the most easily modifiable factor. Potential strategies of stigma reduction include education about mental health, promoting contact between the community and persons with mental illness.