• Center on Health Equity & Access
  • Clinical
  • Health Care Cost
  • Health Care Delivery
  • Insurance
  • Policy
  • Technology
  • Value-Based Care

Dr John Santopietro Describes the Stigma Barrier to Behavioral Health Issues

Article

The intersection of mental and physical health has been around now for quite some time, but the stigma attached to behavioral issues remains a barrier to patients getting the help they need, according to John Santopietro MD.

The intersection of mental and physical health has been around now for quite some time, but the stigma attached to behavioral issues remains a barrier to patients getting the help they need, according to John Santopietro MD, chief clinical officer of behavioral health at Carolinas HealthCare System.

“Stigma keeps people from wanting to talk with their doctors about what’s going,” Dr Santopietro said. “Stigma keeps us from investing in mental health research in the way that we need to and it affects communities and institutions.”

He added that facing stigma head on, rather than turning away from it, is an approach that needs to be taken at large.

Related Videos
Elena Elimova, MD, associate professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto and staff medical oncologist at Princess Margaret Hospital
Dr Eric Yang
Adam Brufsky, MD, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
Enrique Velazquez Villarreal, MD, PhD, MPH, MS, assistant professor in the department of integrative translational sciences at City of Hope
Dr Marco Del Riccio
Dr Steven Manobianco
Dr David Kuter
Roy Mathew, MD, screenshot
Dr Marco del Riccio
© 2026 MJH Life Sciences
AJMC®
All rights reserved.