01064nas a2200169   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653002800055653001800083653002000101653001900121100001700140700001400157245002900171300001400200520068000214       2017                            d  bSpringer10aStigma (health related)10aMental Health10aMental distress10aDiscrimination1 aO’Reilly M1 aLester JN00aConstructions of stigma.  a137–1673 a<p>This chapter focuses on the concept of stigma as related to mental distress, as stigma has been of central concern to the field of mental health. The language and discourses of mental distress are intrinsically linked to stigma, prejudice, and discrimination, and our discussion focuses on the importance of stigma when presenting arguments about mental distress and language. It has been argued that the very notion of stigma is a complex and multidimensional one, which in turn creates challenges for researching its influence and impact. In this chapter, we consider the central theorists in terms of their contribution to the study of stigma and mental distress.</p>