Despite efforts to broaden public perceptions of mental illness, those who suffer from mental illnesses continue to experience stigma. Identity theorists have shown that consistency between how people see themselves and how they perceive others see them promotes mental health; however, this pattern has not been confirmed with stigmatized identities. Stigma scholars have argued that perceived negative stereotypes regarding mental illness are erosive to well-being, but empirical support is mixed. This study combines identity and stigma theories to better understand mental illness as a stigmatized identity. Our study has three goals: to measure self-views and public perceptions of those with mental illnesses, to explore the relationship between stigmatized identity measures and well-being, and to explore how coping strategies might reduce the negative impact of stigma.