There was once a time when being told to “toughen up” was seen as the only remedy for feeling low. Talking openly about mental health, even with close friends, usually meant being dismissed or ridiculed.
Fast forward to now, and a lot has changed, with workplaces, schools, TV shows, movies, and everyday conversations beginning to reflect a much-needed change in how mental health is discussed.
But sadly, we’re not there yet. Stigma and mental health still go hand in hand and remain one of the biggest barriers to seeking mental health treatment. The issue has become significant enough that policymakers and lawmakers have recently introduced changes to laws designed to directly tackle mental health stigma.
This article explores how new mental health policies and laws are beginning to address stigma at a structural level, and how these efforts may encourage more people to reach out for help. These examples highlight how policy solutions for mental health stigma are evolving at both the state and federal levels.
Founded in 2010, A Mission For Michael (AMFM) offers specialized mental health care across California, Minnesota, and Virginia. Our accredited facilities provide residential and outpatient programs, utilizing evidence-based therapies such as CBT, DBT, and EMDR.
Our dedicated team of licensed professionals ensures every client receives the best care possible, supported by accreditation from The Joint Commission. We are committed to safety and personalized treatment plans.
Mental Health Stigma in the U.S.
Mental health stigma is still a major roadblock when it comes to people getting the help they need. In the US, only about 43% of adults with a diagnosable mental illness receive any form of care each year.1 This means that the majority of people go untreated, not even taking into account those who go completely undiagnosed.
While there are many potential reasons for the treatment gap, stigma and public misconceptions about mental health have long been established as significant barriers to care.
But where does this stigma come from?
Stigma develops through both public attitudes and internalized beliefs. A White House analysis of adults with serious mental illness found that 12% had concerns about privacy, such as other people finding out, and 11% feared negative opinions from others if they received help.2 The impact of stigma on seeking mental health care is clear: shame keeps people away from the treatment they need.
Public stigma also remains common, with nearly half of Americans saying they wouldn’t date someone with a mental illness, with many also admitting they would view someone differently if they had a mental disorder.1
These types of issues have prompted policies and laws to change, with a real focus on eliminating the stigma that many with mental health conditions experience.
New Government Initiatives to Reduce Mental Health Stigma
The policies discussed below don’t all take the same form, and it is important to understand the nuances.
A fully enacted law is a law that directly changes how care is delivered and covered.
Federal or state bills reflect where public understanding and political priorities surrounding mental health are heading. They aren’t enacted yet and are moving through legislatures.
There are also state-led programs that aren’t written into law, but still show us the real-world effort being put into schools and workplaces.
These approaches, when combined, show that reducing mental health stigma doesn’t rely on a single type of reform, but on policy efforts working at different levels of society. Together, they represent a growing body of mental health advocacy and legislation aimed at changing how society views and responds to mental illness.
California SB-531 – Proposed Bill
In 2025, California lawmakers put forward SB-531, a proposal that would make mental health education part of school life.3 The idea is that if children grow up learning about mental health in the same way they learn about physical health, the topic stops being shameful.
These educational lessons would weave mental health into existing health lessons,4 which eliminates the need to add a brand new subject to already tight school timetables. Mental health would become just another ‘normal’ topic to learn about as students progress through school.
The focus of these lessons would help young people understand emotions and how mental health can look different from one person to the next. It also introduces the idea of mental illness in an age-appropriate way, alongside where and how to get support.4
By making mental health part of everyday education, this proposal aims to remove the idea that it should be avoided.
Washington HB 1432 – Enacted Law
Washington’s HB 1432 is designed to make sure insurance providers treat mental health and addiction in the same way as physical ailments.5 Before this law, insurance companies could exploit loopholes when it came to mental health care, by carrying out acts like delayed approvals or denied claims after treatment had already started.
HB 1432 closes off many of those loopholes by stating that insurers can no longer refuse an initial mental health assessment or the first six treatment sessions.6 They also face stricter limits on how long they can take to make decisions and whether they can later reverse approvals.6
When therapy and psychiatric care are handled like any other medical service, a clearer picture is drawn: mental health isn’t optional; it’s a normal part of staying well. This is one example of legislation improving behavioral health care access by treating physical and mental health equally.
Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act – Reintroduced
April 2025 saw lawmakers reintroduce the Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act, which focuses on targeting mental health in communities of color. This legislation would authorize grant funding for minority-focused research.7
It aims to provide training and specifically fund a natural education and outreach strategy to reduce mental health stigma among minority groups. Officials have stated that this outreach could break long-standing taboos associated with mental health by promoting the topic in culturally sensitive ways.7
The act would potentially help reassure underserved families that mental illness is treatable and has nothing to do with a ‘moral failing’. Through this strategy, lawmakers hope to address stigma directly and encourage more people start to reach out for the help they deserve.
Wisconsin Mental Health Action Plan – State Policy Initiative
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers decided to tackle mental health stigma through policy, rather than isolated campaigns.8 An executive order created a council on mental health, which was tasked with developing a mental health action plan.
One main goal of the council is to increase awareness and reduce stigma across schools, workplaces, community services, and even prisons. The administration has framed mental health as a public health issue that deserves the same attitude as physical health.8
On its face, the plan has a focus on changing the attitude around mental health and encouraging open conversation at every level of society. It is one of several community mental health initiatives now emerging at the state level, which hopefully have genuine intentions behind them.
Michigan Leads Program – State-Led Program
In 2025, the state of Michigan launched the LEADS workplace mental health program as part of its ‘Healthy Work Healthy Mind’ initiative.9 While not a law, the program represents an attempt at reducing workplace stigma with policies.
LEADS provides evidence-based training and assessment tools for employers, particularly small businesses, to manage stress and support employee well-being.9 Mental health is treated similarly to physical workplace safety, with shared responsibility between managers and staff.
State officials emphasized that mental well-being belongs at the center of workplace safety and productivity.9 The program aims to reduce fear around speaking up about how you feel and challenge the idea that mental health challenges shouldn’t spill into working life.
Understanding the Reality of These Changes
Policy changes and public initiatives help open the door to mental health support, but awareness alone rarely leads to recovery. Knowing that stigma exists, or even understanding why it exists, doesn’t automatically make it easier to ask for help. What these reforms do is remove some of the pressure that has historically sat on people to justify their own suffering before reaching out.
One law change isn’t going to dramatically improve the mental health landscape overnight, but every time a new law gets passed or a new proposal is discussed, it brings the topic to the public. It shows everyone that mental health is serious—serious enough to change laws and consider ways to improve it.
As these barriers are lowered, the internal hesitation that some people have to seek help begins to soften. When this starts to happen, stigma loses some of its power, and along with it, the doors to mental health treatment start to seem a little more open than they once did.
How Does AMFM Treat Mental Health Conditions?
Mental health is changing in America. Stigma is slowly dissolving, and there is a growing focus on helping people move into structured treatment that actually gives recovery room to unfold.
AMFM’s residential programs are built around that idea. We support adults dealing with anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, and other complex mental health conditions through carefully structured care.
If you are trying to work out what level of help makes sense right now, there’s no need to do it alone. Our admissions team can walk you through the treatment options and answer any questions you may have. If you need advice or help regarding insurance coverage, one of our team members will be able to give you the information you need to make an informed decision.
Whenever you are ready to talk, we are here to help you.
References
- Evans, L., Chang, A., Dehon, J., Streb, M., Bruce, M., Clark, E., & Handal, P. (2023). The relationships between perceived mental illness prevalence, mental illness stigma, and attitudes toward help-seeking. Current Psychology, 43(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-04329-2
- The White House. (2022, June 17). Reducing the economic burden of unmet mental health needs. https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/cea/written-materials/2022/05/31/reducing-the-economic-burden-of-unmet-mental-health-needs/
- California Legislative Information. (2025). Bill text—SB-531: Course of study: Mental health education. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB531
- Rubio, S. (2025, February 27). Senator Susan Rubio introduces bill to expand mental health education in schools. California State Senate. https://sd22.senate.ca.gov/news/senator-susan-rubio-introduces-bill-expand-mental-health-education-schools
- Washington State Legislature. (2025). HB 1432. BillTrack50. https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1792300
- Washington State Legislature. (n.d.). House bill report: HB 1432. https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2025-26/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/House/1432%20HBR%20HCW%2025.pdf
- Watson Coleman, B. (2025, April 10). Rep. Watson Coleman reintroduces Pursuing Equity in Mental Health Act. U.S. House of Representatives. https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-watson-coleman-reintroduces-pursuing-equity-in-mental-health-act
- State of Wisconsin. (2024). Gov. Evers urges legislative action to address Wisconsin’s mental health crisis, announces interagency council on mental health. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIGOV/bulletins/3868c05
- Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. (2025, November 20). Michigan launches new program to boost workplace mental health — Employers can sign up now. https://www.michigan.gov/leo/news/2025/11/20/michigan-launches-new-program-to-boost-workplace-mental-health-employers-can-sign-up-now
