Peculiarities of stigmatization of people with depression in adolescents

Abstract

Depression is a complex mental disorder characterized by the lack of a positive affective background and a spectrum of associated emotional, cognitive, physical and behavioral problems. Understanding the causes and risk factors can reduce the phenomenon of stigma, which is a major impediment to accessing psychological support and treatment. Identification and description of the particularities of stigma (public, self-stigma, stigma by association) among adolescents with depression, assessment of the impact on reducing the tendency to seek medical help and synthesis of current evidence for effective early interventions. Narrative review of the literature 2010–2025, focused on studies indexed in PubMed, WHO reports and systematic reviews on stigma, the effectiveness of anti-stigma interventions and the prevalence of depression in young people. Meta-analyses and representative studies on the effect of stigma on addressability and on educational programs in the school environment were selected. Perceived stigma and self-stigma significantly reduce the ability to recognize depressive symptoms and seek help among adolescents, being associated with shame and fear of social labeling. The adolescence stage, characterized by the formation and development of identity in a vulnerable psycho-emotional environment, increases the negative impact of stigma. Educational interventions and those based on direct contact with the psychologist have demonstrated short-term effectiveness in reducing stigmatizing effects, but evidence of maintaining these results and the real increase in referrals for psychological assistance remains limited. Stigma, among adolescents with depression, presents specific characteristics related to identity, autonomy and school environment, which negatively influence the recognition of the problem and the request for specialized help. Integrated implementation of emotional literacy and mental health programs in educational institutions, training of teachers to create a safe and comfortable environment for discussions about mental health is recommended.