Gyamfi, SOwusu, MFAdu, JAmankwaa, IMartin-Yeboah, E2025-01-292025-01-292024-12-26Journal of Community Psychology, ISSN: 0090-4392 (Print); 1520-6629 (Online), Wiley, 53(1), e23164-. doi: 10.1002/jcop.231640090-43921520-6629http://hdl.handle.net/10292/18553Despite ongoing efforts, persons with mental illness (PWMI) continue to experience stigma and discrimination and with profound negative outcomes. This study examined the psychological and social impact of the stigma attached to mental illness as experienced by out-patients at a public mental health facility. We applied a descriptive exploratory method using a semi-structured interview guide to elicit subjective responses from 12 Outpatient Department members. Study participants described various ways the stigma of mental illness impacted them within the social space. Overall, five (5) themes emerged. These include devaluing, losing their partners, social exclusion, unemployment, and loss of self-esteem. Participants' account of their experiences with stigma so far depicts stigma as an everyday occurrence that adversely impacts their social standing. To effectively address stigma requires intentional efforts to bridge the gap created by deliberate acts of discrimination and lack of support for PWMI within our social framework.© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Community Psychology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/GhanaPWMIimpactmental illnessoutpatientsself‐esteemstigma4201 Allied Health and Rehabilitation Science4203 Health Services and Systems4205 Nursing42 Health SciencesBrain DisordersClinical ResearchBehavioral and Social ScienceMental HealthMental Illness8.1 Organisation and delivery of servicesMental health3 Good Health and Well Being1701 PsychologyDevelopmental & Child Psychology4206 Public health5201 Applied and developmental psychology5205 Social and personality psychologyHumansFemaleMaleMental DisordersAdultGhanaSocial StigmaMiddle AgedOutpatientsHospitals, PsychiatricSelf ConceptHospitals, PublicYoung AdultHumansSelf ConceptMental DisordersAdultMiddle AgedOutpatientsHospitals, PublicHospitals, PsychiatricGhanaFemaleMaleYoung AdultSocial StigmaHumansFemaleMaleMental DisordersAdultGhanaSocial StigmaMiddle AgedOutpatientsHospitals, PsychiatricSelf ConceptHospitals, PublicYoung AdultJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1002/jcop.23164