About one in six people suffer or will suffer from mental illness at some point in their life. Mood and anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, depression, substance abuse problems, ADHD, Alzheimer disease ... any of these and other mental illnesses can affect people of all ages, ethnicities and income levels. Yet, there is a stigma surrounding mental health problems. People suffering mental illness are one of the most socially excluded groups among mankind.
If people appear to be different from that expected from average norms, there is a tendency to attach a label to them, which marks and distinguishes them from the rest of society.
Our views and interpretations of mental health problems are frequently distorted by the media. They present us with negative images and misconceptions of people suffering mental illnesses. Common misconceptions are that people with mental disorders are to be feared and kept out of community, because they are dangerous, violent and unpredictable individuals, and that they are irresponsible. These inaccurate representations shape the public's perception of those who suffer from mental disorders as people to be feared and avoided.
However, the media alone can not be held responsible for the stigma around mental illnesses. Stigma is often caused by a lack of understanding and knowledge.
What are the consequences of stigma?
Unfortunately public attitudes towards people with mental illness seem to have become more stigmatizing over the last decades.
The typical reaction encountered by someone with a mental health issue is fear and rejection. Individuals with a mental health problem experience stigma in all areas of their life. Stigma surrounding mental disorders can limit opportunities, it can make it difficult to maintain or find a job, it can increase feelings of loneliness and isolation, and it can cause many other unfortunate outcomes.
People trying to overcome a mental health problem constantly face rejection and exclusion. Most will experience some form of discrimination, whether in the workplace, health insurance or social environments.
Another consequence can be self-stigma: people with mental disorder may start to accept these negative beliefs, lose self-esteem and self-efficacy and respond to these prejudices by adapting their behaviour, such as by social isolation.
The most damaging effect of stigma is the unwillingness of people to seek help. Nearly two thirds of all people with a diagnosable mental disorder do not seek treatment. Stigma is what keeps many people from seeking the help they need, because of the shame associated with their illness. For some people, the stigma is so great that they do not even tell family and friends what they are going through. The first, best way to reduce stigma is to educate the public on mental illness.
Stigma is primarily a social problem that should be addressed by a public approach. In many countries advocacy groups have actively targeted stigma in an attempt to improve the lives of persons with mental illness. The first, best way to reduce stigma is to educate the public on mental illness.
When stigma could be reduced in society, people with a mental disorder would be more honest about their disease, which would lead to early diagnosis, improved recovery and compliance as well as less risk of relapse.
People should know that:
Some tips of how we all can help fight the stigmatization of those who are suffering from mental illness:
Stigma must, and can, be overcome. Everyone suffering mental illness should know that it is not their fault and that it is ok to ask for help. It doesn't matter how a person develops a mental health problem. Please ask advice and consult your doctor.
This page was extracted from an article at http://www.psychiatry24x7.com