Depression and Anxiety Symptoms and Public Stigma of Receiving Psychological Help: The Mediating Role of Anticipated Stigma at Work among Healthcare Workers

Healthcare workers with mental health conditions are often reluctant to seek help due to mental health stigma. Concerns about career repercussions and discrimination largely contribute to help seeking reluctance. This study examined whether anticipated enacted mental health stigma in the workplace plays a role in mediating the relationship between depression and anxiety symptoms, and public stigma of receiving psychological help. A total of 231 healthcare workers participated in this study, including 45% physicians and 55% nurses. Structural equation modeling indicated a positive relationship between depression and anxiety symptoms and anticipated enacted stigma (β = 0.23, p < .05), which in turn influenced public stigma of receiving psychological help for mental health conditions (β = 0.59, p < .05). The relationship between depression and anxiety symptoms and public stigma of receiving psychological help was fully mediated by anticipated enacted stigma (β = 0.04, p= .52). Older healthcare workers reported less concern about anticipated enacted stigma compared to younger ones, and women were less concerned than men about public stigma of receiving psychological help. These findings extend the literature on public stigma associated with receiving help among healthcare workers. The results underscore the importance of developing and implementing stigma reduction programs in healthcare settings.