Analysis

The Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale was designed to measure the level of self-stigma associated with seeking professional help for psychological or emotional problems. Self-stigma refers to the process through which an individual internalizes social prejudices and negative attitudes regarding help-seeking, thereby generating negative feelings toward themselves.

Purpose

The main purpose of the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help Scale is to assess the level of stigma a person feels about seeking help for psychological issues. Measuring self-stigma is important because it can influence an individual’s decision to seek help, as well as the effectiveness of mental health interventions. This tool also provides insights for developing strategies that can reduce self-stigma and encourage help-seeking.

Scoring

The scale includes statements rated on a 5- or 7-point Likert scale. The statements cover feelings of shame and weakness, as well as social devaluation. The overall score is derived from the sum of the ratings for the individual statements.

References

Vogel, D. L., Wade, N. G., & Haake, S. (2006). Measuring the self-stigma associated with seeking help for mental health issues: A revised scale. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(3), 371–388.
Vogel, D. L., & Wester, S. R. (2003). To seek help or not to seek help: The role of self-stigma and other variables. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 59(3), 275–287.
Corrigan, P. W., & Watson, A. C. (2002). The paradox of self-stigma and mental illness. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 9(1), 35–53.
Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2001). Conceptualizing stigma. Annual Review of Sociology, 27, 363–385.
Rüsch, N., Angermeyer, M. C., & Corrigan, P. W. (2005). Mental health literacy and self-stigma. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 112(1), 51–58.