--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mental illness\" is among the most…" description: "\"“Mental illness\" is among the most stigmatized of categories.' People are ashamed of being mentally ill. They fear disclosing their condition to their ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/elyn-r-saks-60109_bias_mental-illness-is-among-the-most-stigmat_745996.jpg" --- # Mental illness" is among the most stigmatized of… ![“Mental illness" is among the most stigmatized of categories.' People are ashamed of being mentally ill. They fear disclosing their condition to their friends and confidants-and certainly to their employers.” quote by Elyn R. Saks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/elyn-r-saks-60109_bias_mental-illness-is-among-the-most-stigmat_745996.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/elyn-r-saks-60109_bias_mental-illness-is-among-the-most-stigmat_745996.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ea8/elyn-r-saks-60109_bias_mental-illness-is-among-the-most-stigmat_745996.jpg) > ““Mental illness" is among the most stigmatized of categories.' People are ashamed of being mentally ill. They fear disclosing their condition to their friends and confidants-and certainly to their employers.”” [Elyn R. Saks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elyn-r-saks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Stigma around mental illness fuels shame and secrecy, hindering help‑seeking and support. **In simple terms:** Stigma makes mental illness hidden. Key Takeaway Combat stigma to encourage openness. Themes mental health stigma disclosure support Mood hopeful serious Type advocacy educational When to use this quote - therapy - workplace - educational settings - media coverage - family conversations Key Concepts social fear employment discrimination self‑esteem public policy Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to reduce stigma? - How does stigma affect your own willingness to seek help? A Different Perspective Stigma reduction requires systemic change, not just personal effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bias/) [Disclosure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disclosure/) [Discrimination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discrimination/) [Employee-relations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employee-relations/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illness/) [Mental disorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-disorder/) [Mental illness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-illness/) [Mental-health-stigma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health-stigma/) [Mentally ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentally-ill/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Stigma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stigma/) [Stigmatized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stigmatized/) ## Related quotes > [“The history of hysteria is a history of the relation between the colonizing father and the colonized devalued other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-l-alpert/the-history-of-hysteria-is-a-history-of-the-relation-between-the/) Judith L. Alpert > [“In reviewing his own moral career, the stigmatized individual may single out and retrospectively elaborate experiences which serve for him to account for his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erving-goffman/in-reviewing-his-own-moral-career-the-stigmatized-individual-may/) [Erving Goffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erving-goffman/) > [“Here I want to stress that perception of losing one’s mind is based on culturally derived and socially ingrained stereotypes as to the significance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erving-goffman/here-i-want-to-stress-that-perception-of-losing-one-s-mind-is-based/) [Erving Goffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erving-goffman/) > [“Disclosures of childhood sexual abuse have frequently been discredited through the diagnosis of hysteria. In this view, women/female children were seen either as culpable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-l-alpert/disclosures-of-childhood-sexual-abuse-have-frequently-been/) Judith L. Alpert > [“When you come out of the grips of a depression there is an incredible relief, but not one you feel allowed to celebrate. Instead,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-lawson/when-you-come-out-of-the-grips-of-a-depression-there-is-an-incredible/) [Jenny Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-lawson/) > [“Civilization transformed man from a food gatherer to a gatherer of pieces of paper: diplomas, employment contracts, money, etc.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/civilization-transformed-man-from-a-food-gatherer-to-a-gatherer-of/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Behind every rich employer, there is a not-so rich employee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/behind-every-rich-employer-there-is-a-not-so-rich-employee/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“A prisoner is imprisoned by the crime that he has committed. A jailer is imprisoned — in the very same prison — by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-prisoner-is-imprisoned-by-the-crime-that-he-has-committed-a-jailer/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“A diploma is a piece of paper that is used to acquire another piece of paper: an employment contract.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-diploma-is-a-piece-of-paper-that-is-used-to-acquire-another-piece/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Every employee should feel like their job is important and that their presence in the company is valued.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrith-vanlon-smith-jr-ceo-of-mayflower-plymouth/every-employee-should-feel-like-their-job-is-important-and-that-their/) [Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, CEO of Mayflower-Plymouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrith-vanlon-smith-jr-ceo-of-mayflower-plymouth/) > [“In a world full of Elon Musks, be a Dan Price.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/in-a-world-full-of-elon-musks-be-a-dan-price/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“The difference between Hired and Fired is the letter "F.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-s/the-difference-between-hired-and-fired-is-the-letter-f/) Chaim S > [“Learning, self-imbibing and disseminating the fact that every person & department is inter- dependent towards achieving the goals set by the organisation would go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/learning-self-imbibing-and-disseminating-the-fact-that-every-person/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Working for a husband and wife ran business is nearly as tricky as navigating a sailing ship while battling the forces of high wind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/working-for-a-husband-and-wife-ran-business-is-nearly-as-tricky-as/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [“We think it's important to have a company culture where employees feel loved, valued, and appreciated.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hendrith-vanlon-smith-jr-ceo-of-mayflower-plymouth/we-think-it-s-important-to-have-a-company-culture-where-employees/) [Hendrith Vanlon Smith Jr, CEO of Mayflower-Plymouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hendrith-vanlon-smith-jr-ceo-of-mayflower-plymouth/) ## More by Elyn R. Saks > [“Or try this: Place yourself in the middle of the room. Turn on the stereo, the television, and a beeping video game, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elyn-r-saks/or-try-this-place-yourself-in-the-middle-of-the-room-turn-on-the/) [Elyn R. Saks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elyn-r-saks/) > [“some truths that were too difficult and frightening to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elyn-r-saks/some-truths-that-were-too-difficult-and-frightening-to-know/) [Elyn R. Saks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elyn-r-saks/) > [“If you are walking on a path thick with brambles and rocks, a path that abruptly twists and turns, it's easy to get lost,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elyn-r-saks/if-you-are-walking-on-a-path-thick-with-brambles-and-rocks-a-path/) [Elyn R. Saks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elyn-r-saks/) > [“in my experience, the words “now just calm down” almost inevitably have the opposite effect on the person you are speaking to.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elyn-r-saks/in-my-experience-the-words-now-just-calm-down-almost-inevitably-have/) [Elyn R. Saks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elyn-r-saks/) [Explore all 5 Elyn R. Saks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elyn-r-saks/) ## More Bias quotes > [The print is devised so that I can cut the dresses on the bias, so they work around the body. 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It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [Fortunately for serious minds, a bias recognized is a bias sterilized.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-haydon/fortunately-for-serious-minds-a-bias-recognized-is-a-bias-sterilized/) [Benjamin Haydon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-haydon/) > [I can say this very clearly: I have come into this Congress with an antiwar bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-frankel/i-can-say-this-very-clearly-i-have-come-into-this-congress-with-an/) [Lois Frankel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-frankel/) > [The legal bias for special protection for women has begun to wreak havoc with the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/the-legal-bias-for-special-protection-for-women-has-begun-to-wreak/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [That's awesome. There's no bias in the media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-edwards/that-s-awesome-there-s-no-bias-in-the-media/) [Carl Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-edwards/) > [“The most disgusting human trait is bias, because it typically leads to propaganda, hate and violence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lori-lifsey/the-most-disgusting-human-trait-is-bias-because-it-typically-leads-to/) [Lori Lifsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lori-lifsey/) > [I'm speaking out against social media bias.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-loomer/i-m-speaking-out-against-social-media-bias/) [Laura Loomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-loomer/) > [“I pick up a copy of Newsweek on the plane and immediately notice how biased, slanted, and opinionated all the U.S. newsmagazine articles are.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-byrne/i-pick-up-a-copy-of-newsweek-on-the-plane-and-immediately-notice-how/) [David Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-byrne/) > [“Hundreds of studies confirm that human forecasts are flawed and biased. Human decision making is not so great either. Again to take just one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-h-thaler/hundreds-of-studies-confirm-that-human-forecasts-are-flawed-and/) [Richard H. Thaler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-h-thaler/) > [“Many journalists now are no more than channelers and echoers of what George Orwell called the 'official truth'. They simply cipher and transmit lies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-pilger/many-journalists-now-are-no-more-than-channelers-and-echoers-of-what/) [John Pilger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-pilger/) > [The stance I took was there is no room for racial bias anywhere in sports. I believe that was basically all I said about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-larkin/the-stance-i-took-was-there-is-no-room-for-racial-bias-anywhere-in/) [Barry Larkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-larkin/) > [First and foremost, if you want to be a good writer, you need to be a good eater. You need to be fearless when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-leong/first-and-foremost-if-you-want-to-be-a-good-writer-you-need-to-be-a/) [Melissa Leong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-leong/) [Browse all 667 Bias quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bias/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Mental illness\" is among the most stigmatized of categories.' People are ashamed of being mentally ill. They fear disclosing their condition to their friends and confidants-and certainly to their employers.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Elyn R. 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