Self-stigma is a complex phenomenon, in which an individual approves and internalizes the stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination supported and guided by the public. Using mental illness as a prime example, the onset of self-stigma on an individual can lead to low self-efficacy, low self-esteem, decreased utilization of healthcare services, and loss of opportunities which in turn reduce overall quality of life. Although self-stigma causes a number of negative impacts, such as those mentioned above, a number of strategic and preventative measures and interventions have also been adopted to alleviate the negative effects of self-stigma. These include consumer-led services, such as peer support and tutoring, and educational campaigns. In this essay, the concept of self-stigma and its effects will be discussed in detail, as well as strategies and methods to combat the negative effects. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The concept of self-stigma can be explained through an in-depth stage model presented by Corrigan and Rao (2012), as well as the “why try” effect by Corrigan et al. (2009). To fully understand the concept of self-stigma and its effects, it is important to note the role of public stigma in causing individuals with mental illnesses to internalize characteristics carried by the public. A mixture of stereotypes and prejudices based on devalued characteristics can cause negative attitudes among the public, generating discriminatory behavior towards people with mental illnesses. The phase model of self-stigma presented by Corrigan and Rao (2012) illustrates the process in which an individual begins to endorse public stigma on an intrapersonal level, within a series of phases. The first stage, awareness, is where the individual recognizes and is aware of the public stigma surrounding their condition. When the individual begins to agree with stereotypes about their condition and subsequently begins to apply the stereotypes to themselves, they are in the agreement and application phases, respectively. Reaching the application stage of the self-stigma stage model can cause harm to the individual and contribute to a significant decrease in their self-esteem and self-efficacy, as well as poor health outcomes. Corrigan et al. (2009) further explains self-stigmatization through the “why try” effect. Similar to Corrigan and Rao's (2012) stage model, the “why try” effect occurs when the individual applies stereotypes and negative attitudes toward himself, causing him to produce a “why try” response. “Why try” responses are those that undermine the individual's self-esteem and are usually degrading to oneself due to low self-esteem, consequently diminishing one's self-efficacy through the interference of life goals, achievements, and opportunities . Corrigan and Rao (2012) provide an example of a 'why try' response in “Why should I try to live alone? I am unable to achieve such independence. I don’t have the skills to manage my own home,” which accentuates how this would affect an individual’s ability to achieve life goals, thus further implying a lack of self-efficacy. A “why try” response elicits a “why try” outcome, which is an undesirable outcome that influences an individual's life opportunities and goals, as a result of self-stigma and negative attitudes. As mentioned, self-stigma occurs when individuals with mental illnesses begin to internalize discriminatory behaviors, stereotypes, andnegative attitudes directed towards their condition. This not only has a negative impact on their self-esteem and self-efficacy, but also has a profoundly disadvantageous and almost cyclical effect on many other aspects of their lives, including healthcare, employment, independence, social activities and free time. First and foremost, self-stigma directly influences an individual's ability to seek and/or adhere to treatment, counseling and information about their condition. Lannin, Vogel, Brenner, Abraham, and Heath (2016) argue that self-stigma elicits a negative attitude toward counseling, whether individual, group, or career-based. Furthermore, Lannin et al. (2016) insist that intention and willingness to seek counseling are significantly reduced due to self-stigma, as individuals begin to associate negatively connoted labels such as “insecure, inadequate, inferior, and weak” with seeking counseling. The study conducted by Lannin et al. (2016) further supported this notion, where they found an association between both, self-stigma decreasing an individual's chances of seeking mental health information and self-stigma decreasing the chances of seeking counseling information. Therefore, Lannin et al. (2016) illustrates that self-stigma is indeed a contributing factor to reduced use of health services and poor health outcomes. Together with the study conducted by Lannin et al. (2016), Fung, Tsang, and Cheung (2011) suggest that self-stigmatization hinders an individual's ability to adhere to treatment, which is another negative effect of self-stigma that mainly contributes to poor health outcomes and overall quality of life.Fung et al. (2011), through testing the self-stigma reduction program with schizophrenic patients, demonstrated that individuals with low self-stigma and higher self-efficacy were able to better adhere to their treatment programs. Subsequently, it was discovered that those with higher levels of self-stigma had lower treatment adherence. All of these factors contribute to poor health outcomes and reduced quality of life. There are multitudes of strategies at the individual and societal levels that aim to alleviate the negative effects of self-stigma, to ensure that individuals are able to collectively access opportunities without the barriers associated with mental illness and self-stigma. A more societal-level method of reducing stigma is educational interventions and campaigns, and while they do not necessarily combat self-stigma, they aim to raise awareness and correct inaccurate and misleading information about mental illnesses. Despite being a strategy that combats public stigma, educational campaigns and interventions have also been found to reduce self-stigma and increase self-esteem in individuals. Consumer-led services, such as drop-in centers and peer support services, represent a more direct and individual strategy for reducing the effects of self-stigma. These peer and mentoring services allow people to receive interventions and support for their condition in a non-discriminatory and less hostile environment. These services initiate a sense of community and therefore promote empowerment within the individual, further improving their self-esteem and self-efficacy. The study conducted by Fung et al. (2011) also introduces a program that aims to reduce self-stigma in individuals with schizophrenia. The program consisted of manualized strategies that would help reduce self-stigma, thus being able to alleviate its negative impacts. Such strategies included psychoeducation, cognitive therapy..