Passage: Mental health remains a topic surrounded by stigma in many communities, often discouraging people from seeking professional help even when they are struggling. University counseling centers report a steady rise in students seeking support, suggesting attitudes may be slowly shifting among younger generations. However, access to affordable mental health services outside major cities remains extremely limited. Question: In the passage, the word ‘stigma’ most nearly means:

Question

Passage: Mental health remains a topic surrounded by stigma in many communities, often discouraging people from seeking professional help even when they are struggling. University counseling centers report a steady rise in students seeking support, suggesting attitudes may be slowly shifting among younger generations. However, access to affordable mental health services outside major cities remains extremely limited. Question: In the passage, the word &#8216;stigma&#8217; most nearly means:

Accepted Answer

A mark of social disapproval or shame. 'Stigma' refers to the social shame/disapproval that discourages people from seeking help, not a treatment or policy

Explanation