Final answer:
The term 'stigma' refers to negative attitudes and beliefs leading to the societal alienation of individuals with mental illness. Stigma impedes their integration into society and can adversely affect the quality and accessibility of medical care they receive.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term stigma is used to refer to the negative attitudes and beliefs that sometimes cause the general public to avoid those with mental illness. Sociologist Erving Goffman described stigma as a process by which individuals are hindered from fully integrating into society due to characteristics deemed undesirable, such as mental illness. The stigmatization of illness, including mental disorders, can affect the kind of care patients receive and may discourage individuals from seeking necessary medical help.
This can contribute to facilities for certain diseases being sub-par or segregated, reflecting societal prejudices and resulting in additional barriers for those seeking treatment. Furthermore, people may act on their prejudices, resulting in discrimination, which is negative action towards individuals because of their group membership. However, while discrimination refers to actions, stereotypes are oversimplified generalizations about people, and prejudice refers to thoughts and feelings.