Chapter 9: Dismantling the Stigma: School Counselor Leadership and Advocacy in Eradicating Mental Health Stigma

This chapter discusses mental health stigma and the school counselor role in best serving their communities. School counselors are the first in line to provide youth with protective factors during their formative years. However, there are a myriad of barriers to access. One major concern is mental health stigma, which exacerbates mental health issues and reduces help seeking behavior. Cultural beliefs, historical, contextual, and societal factors can build stigma and mistrust of mental health practitioners. Thus, school counselors are uniquely positioned to take initiative to serve as leaders and through culturally responsive, comprehensive programs, and build genuine connections. A case study poses a real-world example of how mental health stigma can affect a student and allows readers to conceptualize how school counselors can nurture student mental health through a culturally competent lens.