Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale

What it measures

Measures the degree to which individuals with mental illness have internalised stigmatising beliefs about themselves — including alienation, endorsement of negative stereotypes, perceived discrimination, and social withdrawal as a response to stigma. The Stigma Resistance subscale measures the ability to challenge internalised stigma.

Representative items

• I feel out of place in the world because I have a mental illness. (Alienation)
• Mentally ill people tend to be violent. (Stereotype Endorsement)
• People discriminate against me because I have a mental illness. (Discrimination)
• I don't talk about myself much because I don't want to burden others with my mental illness. (Social Withdrawal)
• Living with mental illness has made me a stronger person. (R, Stigma Resistance)

Citation

Ritsher, J.B., Otilingam, P.G., & Grajales, M. (2003). Internalized stigma of mental illness: Psychometric properties of a new measure. Psychiatry Research, 121(1), 31–49.