Relationship Between Stigma And Mental Health

Legislation in New Zealand such as The Human Rights Act 1993, section 21 and the Employment Rights Act 1997 are in place to prohibit the discrimination on the grounds of mental illness in areas such as housing, training, education and employment. The incidence of stigma and discrimination in these areas is however still continuing to be an issue for those with a mental illness. It has become apparent through large amounts of research that most incidences of stigma and discrimination are usually reported through research studies and surveys (Peterson & Barnes & Duncan 2008; Newell & Gournay, 2000). El-Badri & Mellsop (2007) suggest that most research on stigma tends to center on attitudes and beliefs of the public and how they view those with a mental illness. Much less emphasis on research has involved the personal experience, self-stigma and quality of life of the person with the illness and how they fit within the community. Badri & Mellsop's (2007) study Stigma and quality of life as experienced by

Patrick W. Corrigan and Deepa Rao, “On the Self-Stigma of Mental Illness: Stages, Disclosure, and Strategies for Change,” Canadian Journal of Psychiatry/Revue canadienne de psychiatrie 57.8 (2012): 464–469, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3610943/.

Stigma is a destructive shadow which follows mental health, inevitably impacting on the process of recovery. In Australia, statistics show that one in five individuals experience mental illness, of those 74% (SANE Australia,2013) reported being affected by stigma. With such statistics, it is crucial to understand the recovery process in mental health and the extent to which stigma influences on this process.

While stigma may not necessarily be a cause of a person’s mental disorder, it can certainly contribute to the complication and perpetuation of their illness. The effect of stigma goes well beyond just the patient and provides a commentary on society’s overall level of intolerance of those who are considered different from the majority. By recognizing the level of stigma that exists, perhaps we can alter that behavior and gravitate towards a more productive attitude towards mental illness.

Within the past two decades there’s been a revival in efforts to reduce stigmatization attached to mental illnesses. It was concluded that if mental illnesses were perceived better as ‘real’ diseases by the public that stigma would go down greatly. Reports proposed the idea that better scientific understanding of mental illnesses by the general public could greatly reduce stigma. Stigma is intensely rooted in social and cultural norms it’s patterns devalue and dehumanize groups of individuals within society (in this case mentally ill people). Stigma constructs barriers for individuals, barriers that limit a person’s abilities to have equal opportunities for employment, safe housing, health care and social relationships.Efforts to reduce stigma in recent years have

Stigma surrounds mental illness even in contemporary society. Research has aimed to reduce this. World Health Organisation (WHO; 2012) have stated that such stigma is a “hidden human rights emergency”.

Corrigan, P. J., Morris, S. B., Michaels, P. W., Rafacz, J. D., & Rüsch, N. (october 01, 2012). Challenging the Public Stigma of Mental Illness: A Meta-Analysis of Outcome Studies. Psychiatric Services, 63(10), 963-973. Retrieved October 15, 2017, from http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ps.201100529

This essay will demonstrate my understanding of the impact of discrimination, labelling and stigma has on mental health people in health and social care. It has been documented that there are certain people who are stigmatized and mental health people often have a negative stereotype (Nordt et al., 2006). This negativity will often deter the mental health individuals to seek the help and medical treatment that they need due to the fear of stigmatisation and labelling.

Schizophrenia, an often misunderstood brain disorder, faces unjust judgment in the United States due to inaccurate depictions prevalent in our media, and sensationalizing articles using mental illness to elicit a high consumer response to maximise profit. These factors have served to paint schizophrenics in an unfavorable light, generalizing them as uncontrollable dangers to society. It’s no surprise that the amount stigma towards this illness is perhaps one of the highest in the realm of psychological disorders. This stigma significantly hinders the recovery of patients and safe integration into the community. Stigma across different cultures varies widely, and though a plethora of socio-cultural factors have been said to improve the course of schizophrenia in developing countries, there is little evidence to support this.

Being the victim of stigma typically reduces a person’s sense of dignity; marginalizes affected individuals; violates basic human rights; markedly diminishes the chances of a stigmatized person of achieving full potential; and seriously hampers pursuit of happiness and contentment. (Combating the Stigma of Mental Disorder A Position Paper from the EFPSA Social Impact Task Force, 2014 pg 2) People with mental health problems experience prejudice and discrimination in almost every aspect of their lives. Many claim that the discrimination of society is more disabling than the illness itself. In a survey of approximately 500 people, given a diagnosis of schizophrenia and carried out by the independent 'Inquiry into the "Schizophrenia" label in 2012, more than 80 percent of participants agreed that the actual diagnosis of the illness made their living more difficult, 88 percent said they thought the public associated schizophrenia with violence. Studies have illustrated that prejudice and discrimination against people with a diagnosis of mental illness are common all over the world. For example, more than 700 people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia in 27 different countries were interviewed as part of INDIGO, a research study carried out by the Institute of Psychiatry , King's College London, in collaboration with the World Psychiatric Association’s Global Program Against Stigma and Discrimination because of Schizophrenia. The results of this study revealed, 72 per cent of those interviewed said they felt the need to conceal their diagnosis, 64 percent said the anticipation of discrimination stopped them applying for work, training or education program and 55 percent said it stopped them looking for a close relationship. (Combating the Stigma of Mental

Stigma has been said to be “a feeling of being negatively differentiated owing to a particular condition, group membership or state in life”(Arboleda-Florez & Stuart, 2012, p. 458). There are typically two types of mental illness stigma that are discussed. Public stigma, also known as societal stigma, is the stigma associated with the prejudicial attitudes the public holds towards those people who suffer from mental illness (Arboleda-Florez & Stuart, 2012; Corrigan, Markowitz, Watson, Rowan & Kubiak, 2003). Self-stigma, also known as internalized stigma, is the loss of self-esteem, withdrawal, and personal shame that some with mental illness will experience. Self-stigma is usually developed when those who suffer from mental illness associate the negative stereotypes the public holds with themselves (Chronister, Chou, & Lieo, 2013; Corrigan et al., 2003).

Mental health and its stigma are an important issue plaguing today’s society. Many do not understand or acknowledge the severity of mental illness. The stigma against mental

There are many stigmas, or misconceptions and misperceptions in our society which need to be shattered. I believe that one of the worse possible effects of stigma is that it causes those affected by psychological disorders, or mental illness, to crawl more deeply into themselves because it provokes a sense of shame. Stigma thrusts those suffering with mental illness into a sense of isolation, social exclusion, and discrimination. “Stigma can lead to discrimination … It may be obvious or direct … Or it may be unintentional or subtle…” (Staff). Stigma is often as big as the illness itself and I confess to having been a perpetuator of this dreaded thing, although not consciously aware and without the intent of furthering the harm of someone.

There is a stigma in our country regarding mental health and its treatment. These stigma are divided between social stigma and perceived or self-stigma. Social stigma are those that society places negative feelings towards a certain group, which can lead to discrimination. Perceived or self-stigma are those internalized feelings of the mentally ill individual on how they feel society views them. Both types of stigma can lead to negative feelings of the mentally ill individual through feelings of shame, depression, hopelessness, and anxiety. Current policies on mental health are limited by federal legislation and may only address the aspect of public discrimination.

Individuals with serious mental illness are doubly affected by their disease; not only do they experience the often debilitating symptoms of their condition, but they must also endure mundane mental health stigmas and prejudices. Stigmatized attitudes are perceived to be one of the greatest impediments to living a complete and fulfilling life. Stigma has been defined as a combination of three related problems: ignorance, prejudice and discrimination (Rose, Thornicroft, Pinfold, & Kassam, 2007). Ignorance implies a lack of knowledge, prejudice entails negative attitudes, and discrimination involves exclusionary actions against people deemed to be different. Two forms of stigma are commonly distinguished in literature. Public stigma describes the attitudes of society towards people with mental illness, while self-stigma results from the internalization of prejudice by people who suffer from mental health conditions (Corrigan, Powell, & Rüsch, 2012). The World Health Organization announced that stigma was the most crucial obstacle to overcome for a community to functioning effectively and efficiently (Ontario Hospital Association, 2013).