PSY 255 M1D

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Psychology

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Apr 3, 2024

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As advanced as times have become, acceptance is not very common in society. Specifically, acceptance of mental health among people. Often with the slight mention of mental health people think of mental illness and disorders which are quite different from what it is. Mental health consists of our psychological, emotional, and social well-being. It dramatically impacts and influences how we analyze and process the simplest aspects of our daily lives. It affects how we perceive and respond to stress, how we interact with other people, and the choices we make daily. It is significant in every life stage. Society is not very accepting when it comes to beliefs, ideas, or conditions that challenge what the majority would consider the societal norm. This lack of acceptance is where stigmas are created. Four components contribute to a stigma. A group of people is labeled which separates them from others. The label is associated with those abnormal aspects that challenge that societal norm. Those labeled are viewed in a way that reinforces the divide between themselves and those who are not labeled. This can inadvertently contribute to discrimination against those labeled individuals. People sometimes can become defensive with the mention of discrimination, in disbelief that they may do so. Many may genuinely believe that they do not discriminate and are equally accepting of all. People may subconsciously contribute to stigmas due to a variety of factors such as upbringing, what we are conditioned to believe is “right” due to the social norm, and even what we are taught in academic settings. To combat the stigma would include individuals identifying and reflecting upon their personal beliefs and separating those from those subconscious factors. The media largely influences much of society, what is thought, what is right, what is wrong, and even purchases due to these beliefs. The way the media refers to and addresses the concept of mental health distorts what mental health consists of. Most commonly I often see commercials or ads that pose simple questions and statements that make us question if we are suffering from a mental illness for what may be normal behavior. This then contributes to a variety of items advertised which may claim to aid in creating a better mental state. Those simple behaviors that were overanalyzed may influence someone to believe they suffer from mental illness and need medication to “feel better”. This being said, I acknowledge and believe that there are people who genuinely battle mental illness and medication can be a resource that supports them in achieving a better mental state. Furthermore, there is yet another stigma reinforced concerning prescriptions that are associated with mental illness. People may subconsciously view, respond and react differently to those who do take medications. An easy representation of this is as simple as someone who may make a joke to a new couple such as did you check their medicine cabinet implying that because of what

medications may be in there they are “crazy”. In chapter one, the clinical cases of Jack and Felicia also serve as a representation of not only the stigma of mental illness but also how medication can support success due to aspects of mental illness that present daily challenges for some. This stigma can adversely affect and create a barrier to help-seeking behavior for fear of how a person may be viewed as a result (Al Saif, 2019). In addition to this stigma, someone who already genuinely struggles with mental illness may be prone to increased feelings such as low self-esteem, withdrawal/isolation, and internalized beliefs of self-stigma due to the way they have been discriminated against adding more challenges and barriers to overcome (Sawaf, 2022). Through my research one source surveyed 1,200 diverse students about their beliefs to aid in the reduction of stigma surrounding mental health and mental illness. A common belief was that stigmas were created due to a lack of knowledge and understanding, which I am inclined to agree with. The most common ideas for ending the mental health stigma were education, awareness, open acceptance of the discussion of these concepts, and a positive environment regarding these aspects (Elbulok-Charcape et al., 2021). References Al Saif F, Al Shakhoori H, Nooh S, Jahrami H (2019) Association between attitudes of stigma toward mental illness and attitudes toward adoption of evidence-based practice within health care providers in Bahrain. PLoS ONE 14(12): e0225738. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225738 Elbulok-Charcape, M. M., Mandelbaum, F., Miles, R., Bergdoll, R., Turbeville, D., & Rabin, L. A. (2021). Reducing Stigma Surrounding Mental Health: Diverse Undergraduate Students Speak Out. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 35(4), 327–344. https://doi-org.ccco.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/87568225.2020.1737853 Sawaf, S. (2022). Applying Theoretical Perspectives and Activism to Understand and Combat Mental Health Stigma. Journal of Recovery in Mental Health, 5(2), 42–46. https://doi- org.ccco.idm.oclc.org/10.33137/jrmh.v5i2.37860

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