The Public Response To Mental Illness

Mental illness is a term which is used when a persons mind is affected in some way by a group of illnesses (Ministry of Health [MOH], 2012). People with mental health issues have been viewed and treated in a variety of ways within western society throughout time. Historically if an individual

Stevenson, A., & Lindberg, C. (Eds.). (2011). Stigma [Def. 1]. In New Oxford American dictionary (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. Retrieved February 8, 2016, from

While there have been significant shifts in the understanding of mental health over the past 50 years, many of the responses to people with mental illness have changed very little. A shift

Unmet Needs of the Mentally Ill Population HSM/210 September 23, 2012 Unmet Needs of the Mentally Ill Population Mental illness in a year’s time invades about 5 to 7 percent of the adult population and 5 to 9 percent of the children population. This means millions of adults and children are disabled by mental illness every year. (National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2012) Given this information, how is the public reacting toward the mentally ill population? How is health care taking care of this population? And why is the mentally ill population falling through the cracks with the current mental health service delivery system? With research there are answers, however some may take much need time and money to get

Mental illness is a controversial topic in recent news. From Sandy Hook to the Aurora movie theatre shooting, the effects of mental illness have sparked fierce debate and negative stigma surrounding the issue. Mental illnesses, “patterns of thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that are deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional” (Myers 562), affect 1 in 4 people at some point in their lives ("Stigma and Discrimination"). However, only 59.6% of people with mental illness report receiving treatment, as they are often perceived as “dangerous, unpredictable, responsible for their illness, or generally incompetent” (Corrigan, Druss, and Perlick). As a result, an entire group of citizens is discriminated against for a condition beyond their control. With so much riding on the issue, a question needs to be addressed: to what extent does stigma surrounding mental illness affect the treatment of patients in healthcare and society? To explore the effects of stigma surrounding mental illness, it is essential to understand the issue through historical, sociocultural, economic, and scientific lenses.

While reading Erving Goffman’s book, “Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity”, Goffman give a couple definition and concept to the idea of a stigma, which is a deeply disgrace feature in an individual, although this is largely dependent on groups. Through the grouping and reference that society establishes, expectations are

People that suffer from mental illnesses are often thought to have drawn the short hand in life. Not only must they experience the hardships that many go through from day to day, but they must do so with a whole new layer of issues that are no walk in the park. On top of everything, they have to mull over the different methods of coping with their condition. From “talk therapy” to drowning in medications, all are temporary solutions to a major issue that has been plaguing humanity for as long as history can record. What about this situation could possibly be changed? One viewpoint theorizes that a lack of public awareness about mental health is the greatest downfall when it comes to treatment options. Another point of view states that a lack

Erving Goffman defined stigma as “the situation of the individual who is disqualified from full social acceptance” and “an undesired differentness from what we had anticipated” (Goffman, 1963). According to Thornicroft, Rose, Kassam, and Sartorius (2007), stigma comprises ignorance (lack of knowledge), prejudice (stigmatizing attitudes), and discrimination (being treated unfairly, a behavior concept). The Haghighat (2001) model of public stigma represents people’s social and psychological reactions to someone perceived to have a stigmatized condition. According to this model, stigmatization has three components: cognitive (based on stereotypes such as “schizophrenics are violent”), affective (fear and anxiety), and behavioral (avoidance and discrimination). (p. 251)

In chapter one the use of the concept stigma, stigma is a characteristic that discredits

During a mental health event the First Lady, Michelle Obama said, “At the root of this dilemma is the way we view mental health in this country. [...] Whether an illness affects your heart, your leg or your brain, it’s still an illness, and there should be no distinction.” This shows that mental illness stigma in society is based on mental illness being perceived more negatively than other physical illness when it should actually be seen as the same. Stigma around mental illness has had very immense adverse effects on the willingness of undiagnosed suffers to not seek treatment when they need it. As a result of this one in five people with a mental illness will not get the treatment they need which has the effect of high suicide rates among the untreated sufferers. In an effort to reduce stigma around mental illness, so that more undiagnosed sufferers seek treatment, schools should devote more time to increasing awareness of mental illness and its effects.

Therefore when one is discussing stigma is can be seen as a concern of disempowerment and social injustice. (cite from stigma article)

“I want to be able to talk to someone in a pub and say ‘I have been mentally ill’ and for them to say ‘That’s interesting, what did you experience?’”, said a survivor from the UK in 1997 (Sayce 18). Almost twenty years later and this man 's wish still has not come true. People may ask why, and the answer is because of the stigma that comes along with having a mental illness. Mental illness is something not often talked about because of the fear of being judged. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in every four Americans has a mental illness, and only about 40% of them seek professional help (Hamid). People are being put into mental institutions instead of getting the help that they need to get better, because even people in the medical field are not understanding about this situation because they do not understand how it feels. The stigma and stereotypes towards mental illnesses are overwhelming, therefore people should be made aware of their impact and take steps to reduce stigma and stereotypes.

Stigma is an interesting concept in social psychology because it not only studies the experience of marginalized people (who already do not receive enough attention in science) but dissects the inner workings of power imbalances, internal dynamics, and interpersonal conflicts. Arguably the most important foundational text in stigma research, across

SOCIAL STIGMA Social stigma is the extreme disapproval of (or discontent with) a person or group on socially characteristic grounds that are perceived, and serve to distinguish them, from other members of a society. Stigma may then be affixed to such a person, by the greater society, who differs from their

Goffman (1963) defined stigma as any condition, attribute, trait, or behavior that is deeply discrediting and reduces the bearer from a whole and usual person to a tainted and discounted one. . Stigma consist of an attributes that marks people as different leading to devaluation. Stigma is