Opening up: self-disclosure and stigma among mental health professionals-a cross-sectional study

Purpose Stigma and discrimination in the workplace are prevalent challenges faced by mental health professionals (MHPs) with lived experience of mental illness, affecting their well-being and job sustainability. Although self-disclosure of lived experience has the potential to reduce discrimination and stigmatization, fear of repercussions often deters professionals from sharing their experiences. This study aims to explore the role of self-disclosure in the workplace in relation to self-stigma, discrimination and self-esteem within MHPs. Design/methodology/approach Using a cross-sectional design, an online survey was conducted to assess self-disclosure, self-stigma, discrimination and self-esteem. A total of 124 MHPs were included and were categorized into five professional groups. Self-disclosure was operationalized as the extent to which individuals revealed their personal experience with mental health issues to colleagues through six questions. The relationship between self-disclosure and self-stigma (Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness-10), experienced discrimination (Stigma Scale-Discrimination subscale) and self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-esteem scale) was investigated using linear regression. Findings Self-disclosure was significantly positively associated with self-esteem but was not associated with self-stigma and discrimination. Exploratory analyses suggested that this positive association may be specific to professionals with a DSM classified mental illness, who also reported higher self-stigma and discrimination. Significant variations in disclosure, self-stigma and discrimination were observed between professional groups. Originality/value The study provides new quantitative evidence about self-disclosure among MHPs and challenges existing concerns about the risks of self-disclosure by showing its positive impact on self-esteem among MHPs. This underscores the importance of interventions that promote open dialogue to reduce stigma within professional settings. Future research should use longitudinal designs and explore additional factors influencing disclosure dynamics.