Stigma is a set of negative beliefs that people hold about another individual or group of individuals. Mental health stigma is a set of negative, and often unfair, prejudices about people who suffer from mental health conditions.
A mental illness is a medical condition that interferes with a person's ability to think, feel, function, express moods and emotions, and relate to other people. Some examples of mental illness include bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and schizophrenia. Mental illness affects a large range of people, regardless of age, race, income, and more. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, more than sixty million Americans suffer from some form of mental illness. Most mental illnesses have no cure but are treatable with a combination of medication and therapy programs administered by mental health professionals.
Two types of mental health stigmas exist: social and perceived stigma.
Social stigma
is the way society feels about, labels, and treats those with mental health conditions. Perceived, or self-stigma, is the shame felt by an individual suffering from a mental health disorder. Mental health stigma causes numerous problems for those with mental illness.
Impact
Mental illness impacts every part of a person's life, from education to employment, physical health, and social relationships. Mental illness not only hurts the people with the mental condition but also their families, friends, coworkers, and even strangers. Many people with mental illness do not seek treatment because of the embarrassment they feel about their conditions.
Many people are not properly educated about mental illness, leading to social stigma. Throughout history, people with mental health issues have been mistreated and excluded from society. Some even believed affected people were possessed by demons or spirits, causing further fear of these individuals. This miseducation has been spread by a variety of sources, including the media and entertainment industry, which sometimes provide incorrect information about mental illness and portray those with mental illness in a negative light.
Mental health stigma leads to stereotyping and discrimination that can have dire effects on people with mental health conditions. For example, a person suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder may have problems obtaining employment because potential employers might base their decision not to hire the individual solely on the perceived issues surrounding the person's condition, without even considering more important aspects such as the person's education or experience.
Mental health stigma leads people to perceive those with mental conditions as dangerous and unpredictable. Studies have shown that people fear those with certain illnesses such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Some people even think those with mental conditions are responsible for their illnesses and believe some, such as eating disorders or drug dependencies, are self-inflicted and can be cured simply by stopping the behaviors.
Social stigmas can also cause medical professionals to focus less on the patients themselves. In addition, studies have shown that a wide range of people have a negative view of those with mental illness. This is regardless of whether people know someone personally with mental illness—including friends and family—or if people are knowledgeable or experienced with mental health.
These social stigmas can cause people afflicted with mental health conditions to suffer from perceived stigma. Also called self-stigma, this causes people to feel negative thoughts about themselves. They may think they cannot recover or are not deserving of treatment. They may think "why try" and, as a result, forgo needed treatment or stop taking medication to control their illnesses. Perceived stigma can lead people to believe they are dangerous and are somehow to blame for their illnesses. These feelings can be detrimental to the individual and can lead to low self-esteem, shame, embarrassment, and even cause isolation or suicide.
Addressing Mental Health Stigma
Mental health care providers have addressed the stigmas surrounding mental health conditions. They have sought to educate the public about mental illness to reduce stereotypes and discrimination. Positive public perception of mental health can help people suffering from mental conditions seek treatment without feelings of embarrassment or shame.
In addition, the U.S. government has helped to combat the social stigma of mental illness by adopting legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Mental Health Parity Act of 1996, Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008, and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The purpose of much of this legislation has served to protect people suffering from mental illnesses by preventing discrimination from employers, educational institutions, businesses, the government, the courts, law enforcement, the health care industry, and more.
Despite these measures, mental health stigma still exists. The best tool to fight the effects is education. If people are educated about mental illness, this will help to reduce the fear and negative feelings associated with these types of conditions and diminish discrimination and prejudice. Many people and organizations continue to speak out about mental illness to help educate others about the stigma and its negative effects on those suffering from mental conditions.
Bibliography
Corrigan, Patrick W., Benjamin G. Druss, and Deborah A. Perlick. "The Impact of Mental Illness Stigma on Seeking and Participating in Mental Health Care." Association for Psychological Science. Association for Psychological Science. 1 Aug. 2014. Web. 2 Feb. 2015. http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/publications/mental-illness-stigma.html
Davey, Graham C.L. "Mental Health & Stigma." Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, LLC. 20 Aug. 2013. Web. 2 Feb. 2015. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/why-we-worry/201308/mental-health-stigma
"Mental Illness Facts and Numbers." National Alliance on Mental Illness. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Web. 2 Feb. 2015. PDF. http://www.nami.org/factsheets/mentalillness_factsheet.pdf
"Mental Illnesses: What Is Mental Illness." National Alliance on Mental Illness. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Web. 2 Feb. 2015. http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=by_illness
Szabo, Liz. "Cost of Not Caring: Stigma Set in Stone: Mentally Ill Suffer in Sick Health System." USA Today. Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Web. 2 Feb. 2015. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/06/25/stigma-of-mental-illness/9875351/
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