Socio-Political Factors

Valuing People Now 2001; Putting People First 2007; Human Rights Act 1998; Mental Health Act 2007; Mental Capacity Act 2005; The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (Amendment) Regulations 2003; Disability Discrimination Act 2005; safeguarding children and vulnerable adults policies; key aspects of current related legislation for England, Wales and Northern Ireland

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

Although stigmatizing attitudes are not only relatable to mental illness, the public attitudes towards mental illness tend to be more disapproving than towards people with physical illnesses (Piner and Kahle, 1984; Socall and Holtgraves, 1992; Weiner, Perry and Magnusson, 1988). Those with mental illnesses are viewed as being more likely to be responsible for their mental illness (Corrigan et al., 2000; 105). This assumptions is more towards those who suffer from substance additions and eating disorders rather than those who suffer from conditions such as schizophrenia (Angermeyer and Matschinger, 2004). Such attitudes as these therefore lead to discrimination. People in society are less likely to employ (Bordieri and Drehmer, 1986) and rent apartments (Page, 1977) to those suffering from mental illness, citizens are also more likely to direct false accusations of violence to the mentally ill. (Explaining the increased arrest rate among mental patients: a cautionary note, 1980; Steadman, 1981)

Crazy by Pete Earley and a series of class videos highlight the tension between access to care and the right of refusal for mental illness patients. Core themes and patterns in the material show the difficulties between state governments and local resources. Each film and book explores the availability of voluntary community-based treatments; personal and professional ethics regarding the individual choice to refuse treatment; and community demands for consumer safety and others.

This act however does not cover any discrimination within the community but still covers it when admitted into hospital. This also connects to the equality act 2010 as it makes it illegal to discriminate directly or indirectly against someone with a mental health condition within public services and functions, access to any premises, work, education, associations, and finally transport.

Individuals with a mental health illness tend to experience discrimination due to misinformation, assumptions and stereotyping. Many people in our society are not educated on the subject of mental illnesses and often have misconceptions about the conditions and what affects these pre conceived ideas can have on the individual suffering from the

As being diagnosed as mentally ill creates a use of label’s which help us to understand and accept the behaviours that they are displaying within a patient centred environment where the individual will not be held in charge for their actions. However, this use of terms will generate empathy and accepting the attitudes of those who are suffering from the mental health issue/ disorder. In some cases, this type of language is seen as a control by professionals which shows off the power that they have over the service user. In some cases, the label’s give some form of relief to service users and individuals for example they will find out that the illness that they have has a name and reassures the service users in a way because they can receive a more adapted way of getting treatment and information of their illness. The findings that we have on labelling provides us with the evidence which we can use to argue that labelling empowers people and raises individual’s self-esteem which in a way can make their wellbeing better, but this is supported throughout the service users opinions once they’ve been diagnosed some individuals become aware of the illness that they have and they gain an understanding of the behaviours that they are displaying or showing. The mental capacity act 2005 says that choices are made but are made

People with mental illness struggle to fit into society. They may feel socially awkward, causing feelings of loneliness or isolation. Likewise, those with mental illness are more likely to be unemployed because of anxiety or fears. Without having a job or way to

Stigma and discrimination is negative aspect experienced by mentally ill patients it is a barrier that prevents them from living a normal life therefore it is vital to safe guard and advocate for them to maintain a normal life (Equality Act,

95). The 1992 amendments were set into place to improve these numbers. However, over a decade has gone by and there are still barriers that have not been broken down. Many employers will not employ someone with a psychiatric disability thus resulting in “underemployment of the subpopulation with only one third of individuals being competitively employed at one time” (Schutt & Hursh, 2009, p.53-54). Job retention has also become a growing concern because meaningful employment has been difficult to quantify. In addition to the majority of the psychiatric disability population being unemployed, those that are employed “work entry-level job positions with low pay and little chance of advancement leading to limited opportunities for improvement in the quality of their lives” (Ackerman & McReynolds, 2005, p. 36). “Job retention is an important psychosocial goal, which is not often achieved” (Schutt et al., 2009, p.53). “The main reason individuals with psychiatric disabilities leave jobs is due to interpersonal and personal problems more than quality of work” (MacDonald-Wilson, Rogers, & Massaro, 2003, p.16). It was also found that most had “poor motivation or job responsibility” (Rimmerman, Botuck, & Levy, 1995, p. 41).

In the United States people who have a mental illness are often stigmatized by others which causes one to often lose out on many opportunities due to the lack of understanding and education of others as well as experiencing discrimination. Many who live with a mental illness want to work and to provide for themselves, however, due to the stigma that surrounds mental illness portrayed by the

This can be seen by the laws and infrastructure created that prevent others from discriminating against them in any way. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, people are not allowed to discriminate against anyone with a mental illness at a workplace, state or local government services and public transportations, public accommodations, or telecommunications. The ADA ensures that people are treated fairly and respected instead of being singled out for something they were unable to prevent. In Blanck’s book, he claims that “the ADA signals a unique opportunity for all individuals to join together in breaking down long-standing myths about disabilities and building more inclusive communities” (11). This emphasizes the fact that there are laws set in place for mentally ill people to have the same opportunity as people that are

Throughout history people who have a mental health illness are not accepted in society. The attitudes of people in society, for example the workplace, is an important measure of the success of that society. Segregating people with mental illnesses from society, by putting someone in a institute, contributed to the attitude that an individual with mental illness are not capable of participating or contributing in society. These negative stereotypes are often portrayed in media, and influence the stigma of mental health illness being dangerous. This controversial concept of dangerousness states that individuals with a mental illness are more dangerous than those without a mental illness. Various forms of discrimination and exclusion in society is still present today. If society begins to understand mental illness, then they will judge a lot less. Success in that society will come when society accepts other people who are different

Shunning and ignoring mental health patients comes under the umbrella of stigmatization. Recent interpretations of the term stigma have become somewhat confused and, at times, blur with those of social exclusion and discrimination (Jorm & Oh, 2009). To attempt to clarify the meaning of stigma, Goffman's seminal work is very useful. Goffman's (1963) monograph contributes to the potential lack of clarity by stating that stigma involves a combination of personal attributes and social stereotypes related to societal access to and endorsement of well-known "unacceptable" or "inferior" human characteristics. Technically therefore, a person may not be mentally ill, but others may attribute this condition to her or him, draw on entrenched stereotypes, and interact with the person in a manner arising from the observers'

The labelling and stigma attached to mental illness has held and retained my interest over the course of the semester, as it has equipped me with future skills to be able to apply to my future practice as a social worker as well as to my own personal life. Having had a close family member of