In a new review paper, UNCG Psychology’s Dr. Kari Eddington and clinical doctoral student Emily Badillo-Winard explore the concept of “mental illness identity,” which reflects how people integrate their mental health conditions into their self-concept. This integration impacts their well-being and willingness to seek assistance. The existing literature presents a paradox: while greater identification with a mental health condition can enhance engagement with services, it may also lead to poorer treatment outcomes.
Eddington and Badillo-Winard challenge the common view that mental illness identity is merely a form of internalized self-stigma. They argue that attitudes toward mental health labels can often be more positive than anticipated, indicating that stigma alone doesn’t fully capture the nuances of mental illness identity. Their review categorizes this identity into three key areas: acceptance of a diagnosis, the centrality or salience of symptoms, and the internalization of stereotypes—each of which has unique implications for how individuals integrate their mental health experiences. Understanding these internal barriers could improve help-seeking behaviors, and the authors recommend future research focus on creating better validated measures of mental illness identity, separating stigma assessments from other facets of mental illness identity, and examining how mental illness identity evolves over time. They also emphasize the importance of considering intersectional identities, highlighting that everyone’s journey with mental health is uniquely shaped by social factors. Addressing these complexities can pave the way for more effective mental health interventions.
The published paper is available open access from the publisher.
