How does stigma affect willingness to disclose mental health concerns to peers?

• A. Encourages disclosure due to support.
• B. Has no effect.
• C. Stigma can discourage disclosure due to fear of negative judgment and social consequences.
• D. Makes disclosure easier but only to professionals.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that social attitudes toward mental illness shape whether someone feels safe sharing their concerns with peers. Stigma involves negative beliefs and judgments about mental health, which can lead to fear of being labeled, ridiculed, or treated differently. Because of that fear, a person may worry about social consequences—losing friendships, being avoided, or harming their standing—which makes them reluctant to disclose to friends. So stigma tends to reduce willingness to open up to peers, not encourage it.

That’s why the statement about stigma discouraging disclosure due to fear of negative judgment and social consequences is the best fit. The other options miss that protective effect stigma has on openness, or oversimplify the issue by implying no effect or that disclosure would be easier to professionals only.