THE STIGMA OF MENTAL-ILLNESS IN ASIAN CULTURES

Objective: This article reviews the attitudes towards mental illness a nd psychiatric stigma in Asian cultures. Method: Relevant literature p ublished in English was reviewed. Results: Psychiatric stigmas in Asia n cultures share some common features. However, response to mental ill ness has many variations across cultures. Psychiatric stigma is preval ent and severe in some but not all Asian cultures. Conclusions: The st igma of mental illness needs to be studied within its sociocultural co ntext in order to understand its origins, meanings and consequences, I t may be relevant to examine the indigenous concepts, experience and i mplications of psychological problems to address problems in mental he alth care relating to stigma.