The Stigma Of Mental Illness

One of the biggest contributors for poor healthcare is the stigma against mental health. This stigma allows healthcare providers to view those with a mental illness as having low relevance, thus creating disinclination towards providing adequate resources and/or care. This negative stance, based on misinformation and prejudice creates those that have a mental illness to lose their self confidence. Because of this loss, people with mental illness decide not to contribute to their health or livelihood. In the past fifty years, many advances have been made in mental healthcare. However, with the attached stigma, many people choose to not seek out treatment.

While the treatment methodology for mental illness has improved over the last few decades, the negative stigma surrounding those who seek care is still a major roadblock. (Corrigan, 2004) To better understand the term stigma, the definition must first be examined. According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary Stigma is defined as “a set of negative often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something; a mark of shame or discredit.” (Stigma, 2015). These views are often

The effects of self-stigma can lead to a lack of self esteem, lack of confidence, isolation and the increased likelihood of avoiding professional help for their illness. This then has an over all affect on quality of life and where one sees themselves fitting within society (Barney, Griffiths, Jorm & Christensen, 2005; Griffiths & Christensen, 2004; Newell & Gournay, 2000).

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.

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

About 57.7 million Americans have a diagnosable mental illness (Duverge n.p.). According to Patrick Corrigan and Amy Watson, “Stigmas about mental illness seem to be widely endorsed by the general public in the Western World” (16). This means that a large number of the people who have a mental illness are affected by the stigma surrounding mental illness, possibly in multiple ways. While some say that stigma surrounding certain drugs meant to treat mental disorders could prevent people from taking them without a reason (Roleff and Egendorf 87), many people with a mental illness are negatively affected by the stigma. The stigma surrounding mental illness in society can worsen the lives of the mentally ill and lessen the number of people being

With that being said, anti-stigma programs have been developed to enhance the understandings of those labeled as mentally ill. The anti-stigma programs are aimed at both specific target groups and the general public (Henderson, 2013), to provide individuals with an opportunity to become knowledgeable and experienced with mental health (Corrigan, 2007a). Two messages that these programs address are for the public to stop reporting misrepresentations of mental illness, and for individuals to stop believing the negative views of mental illness (Corrigan & Watson, 2002). By addressing the concern of stigma, the programs also use the medical model as discussed in lecture on mental health (Savelli, 2016), to persuade the public that having a mental

One big issue in the world right now is stigma against individuals with mental illness. One may ask, “What is stigma?” “Stigma” is one of those words one hears a lot, but if one was asked to define it, one would know where to start. In fact, the word “stigma” is in the top 10% of look ups on the Merriam-Webster Dictionary's website. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of stigma is “a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something.” The first known use of the word “stigma” was circa 1593. “Stigma” is derived from the Latin word “stigmat”, which means a mark or brand (Merriam-Webster, Incorporated). Types of stigma include prejudice, discrimination, cues, and stereotypes. Now, one

Individuals with a mental health diagnosis are often subjected to the stigmatization that society places on them. This generalized idea is an example of how society looks at mental illness and portrays it as a personal trouble. Individuals who are diagnosed with a mental illness are often looked at as dangerous, it is assumed that the mental illness they have is self-inflicted, or that individuals with mental illness are irresponsible. The stigmatization that individuals with mental illness are exposed to, can make it difficult for them to seek help or services. This stigma may also limit the employment opportunities the individual gets, they may have trouble finding housing, as well as trouble being able to be a part of social activities therefor further marginalizing these individuals in our society.

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).

This viewpoint claims that this is the goal that society should be working towards in order to produce the best possible outcome of the mental health issue. This would be an overall decrease of stigmas towards mental illnesses. According to Michael Auerbach, an experienced writer in the fields of public affairs, government relations, international relations, and project management, a stigma is defined as “perceived disgrace or shame applied to an individual, activity, or condition” (Auerbach). The stigma of mental illnesses can cause people to become ashamed of themselves and lead them to neglect their mental health by trying to live with their symptoms rather than being diagnosed and eventually treated. After all, when one is considered a rarity in society, there is hardly any joy in bringing attention to it. Studies conducted by the National Comorbidity Survey in 1990, the first large scale field survey of mental health in the United States, revealed that “only 24.3% of individuals with a serious mental illness sought care” (Corrigan, Druss, and Perlick). This is hardly surprising considering how mental illnesses have been perceived by the populace as something to be

Stigma can be expressed in various term, it can be a brand, labelling or identification. It is a differentiation of a person resulting to a boundary between “us” and “them” (Link and Phelan 2001). These affect consumers in a way they are discriminated and treated differently because they have mental illness. The effect of stigma can take away the rights of consumers who are suffering from mental illness causing social dilemmas (SANE Australia 2013). A survey shows 74% of consumers experience stigma from school, work, and social activities. Consumers had only one feedback, to reduce stigma so they can go with their life peacefully and engage in normal social activities without discrimination (SANE Australia 2006). It is

Stigma is a feeling of disgrace or dishonor experienced by a person, especially a person living with a serious mental illness. Most of the people who feel serious symptoms of mental illness, they tend to hide it or deny it as they think that seeking for psychiatric treatment is shameful act. Consequently, people’s mental health deteriorates quickly due to lack of immediate early psychiatric intervention. Psychiatric nurses (PNs) are the front-line health care providers who interact with people living with mental illness on a regular basis. Therefore, it is important for PNs to investigate how people with mental illness perceive this stigma, how the attitude of PNs contributes to stigmatization, and how it can be reduced and prevented. How do

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.

“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.