Decoding Prejudice: Understanding Patterns of Adolescent Mental Health Stigma †

Background/Objectives: Mental health problems are a major cause of disability, impacting nearly 20% of adolescents. Nevertheless, they are hesitant to seek help because of stigma and fear of being labelled. Adolescents often have low mental health literacy and perceive mental health problems as personal failures. To address it, our study aimed to identify subgroups within the adolescent population based on mental health knowledge, social stigma, experiences of intergroup anxiety, and endorsement of stereotypes. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 182 adolescents (50.6% male) aged 10 to 17 years (M = 13.8, SD = 2.4). Participants completed an online survey comprising the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule, Attribution Questionnaire (AQ-8-C), Intergroup Anxiety Scale, and a scale regarding stereotypes towards people with mental health problems. Cluster analysis was used to identify the subgroups. Results: We identified three subgroups: (1) “Potential Advocates”, showing high mental health knowledge, low social stigma, low intergroup anxiety, and moderate endorsement of stereotypes; (2) “Ambivalents”, manifesting high mental health knowledge, moderate social stigma, heightened intergroup anxiety, and low endorsement of stereotypes; and (3) “Stigmatizers”, revealing low mental health knowledge, pronounced social stigma, moderate intergroup anxiety, and tendency to endorse stereotypes. Conclusions: The results highlight the multiplicity of perceptions regarding mental health and the pivotal role of knowledge, stigma, intergroup dynamics, and stereotypes in shaping attitudes. Implications for interventions targeting mental health stigma and fostering positive attitudes among adolescents are discussed, underscoring the importance of customised strategies to address the multiple needs and experiences characteristic of this developmental stage.