Public Perceptions of Politicians with Mental Health Problems in the UK

• In Event: Evaluations of Candidates with Disabilities and Mental Health Challenges

Abstract

In recent years, an increasing number of politicians have publicly spoken about their mental health, with some opening up about their history of mental health problems and diagnosed conditions and others naming the stress and pressure of holding public office as a cause of poor mental health. In some cases, these struggles have led politicians to quit politics or take a break from it. How do voters react to this? Through a survey experiment in which UK respondents are presented with a fictional MP addressing their return to politics after taking a break, we evaluate how voters evaluate politicians with mental health conditions. We examine whether and how disclosing depression, bipolar disorder, and panic disorder affect public perceptions of politicians’ traits and representativeness as well as voter support. We analyse to what extent these effects vary with citizens’ own experience of mental health conditions and levels of stigma. Our study reveals that disclosing mental health conditions does not seem to hurt politicians’ prospects; rather, voters value their character and their ability to represent diverse groups of citizens.

Authors

• Luca Bernardi, University of Liverpool

• Robert Johns, University of Southampton

• Stefanie Reher, University of Strathclyde