Stigma
Published: January 2025
"Stigma" is a powerful film exploring the impact of mental health stigma and discrimination on young people. Featuring Dr. Petra Gronholm (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine), Beth Gallimore (King's College London), and Sharon and Earle Dowse, it examines public, self, family, and structural stigma — unpacking their consequences, including emotional struggles, bullying, exclusion, academic challenges, and long-term effects on development.
The film also explores the role of family, peers, culture, religion, and social media in shaping mental health perceptions, and provides practical advice to help families support their children, encourage honest conversations, and create a more inclusive environment.
Learn more about stigma and discrimination
For further reading, visit our factsheet on stigma, or read one grandmother's story about her grandchild's autism diagnosis to see stigma through a real-life lens. For a deeper analysis, explore "Understanding Stigma in Autism: A Narrative Review and Theoretical Model" by Alice Turnock, Kate Langley, and Catherine RG Jones (National Library of Medicine). The paper examines stigma faced by autistic individuals and the affiliate stigma — stigma by association — that caregivers can experience, which may harm their own well-being.
What does stigma mean for kids
Public understanding of autism, and the visibility of autistic traits, shapes stigma. When knowledge is incomplete or based on stereotypes, people often misinterpret autistic behaviours negatively.
