Mental health stigma is a growing problem that leaves many people feeling alone. Mental illness affects 1 in 5 adults, but often those who are suffering do not feel like they can come out and talk about it due to the fear of being judged or discriminated against.
This blog post will answer 15 questions that may help you understand what mental health stigma is and how it affects both sufferers and non-sufferers alike.
What is mental health stigma?
Mental health stigma is the negative attitudes and feelings that affect those with mental illnesses or their loved ones. Anyone can be a victim of mental health stigma, but it overwhelmingly affects people who have been diagnosed with clinical depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia etc., as well as family members and friends.
Mental health stigma manifests itself in many ways:
-judgmental behavior from others;
-rejection for jobs because of an illness or hospitalization;
-being belittled by coworkers or spouses/partners about one’s suffering
Some people who have mental illness, like depression or anxiety, feel excluded by others. They worry that other people will think they are “crazy” and will not want to be friends with them.
Mental health stigma also affects loved ones, primarily spouses/ partners or children. They may experience a sense of shame or embarrassment about the mental illness in their family. They may also feel anger, guilt and helplessness because they cannot “fix” someone who is suffering from an illness that has no cure.
The fear of being stigmatized can delay people from seeking help for themselves or loved ones with mental illnesses. This delays diagnosis and treatment which can be very harmful for someone who is suffering from a mental illness.
Mental health stigma can also lead people to make judgments about other people’s experiences with mental illnesses, such as assuming that they are dangerous or less deserving of sympathy than others.
What are the common stigmas of mental illness?
People with a mental illness are more likely to be unemployed and homeless. We often blame their lack of motivation, but this is because they don’t have the same opportunities as people without an illness that affects one’s ability to work or lead a normal life.
They may experience prejudices in social settings such as when families exclude them from events, refuse to invite them on vacations or never call for visits anymore.
Mental health stigma can also lead people to make judgments about other people’s experiences with mental illnesses, such as assuming that they are dangerous or less deserving of sympathy than others.
We need society-wide change where no person feels compelled by fear of discrimination into silence.
What are examples of stigma?
-Stigma can often lead to discrimination and harassment in the workplace.
-It may cause mental health patients to seek help later because they fear judgment from others and being judged themselves. This leaves them feeling worse off than before seeking treatment, as it delays their recovery process.
-Mental illness stigma has been shown to make people less likely to seek treatment or speak openly about their mental health.
-Stigma also stigmatizes family members and friends of people with mental illness, due to the misconception that it is contagious or inherited from one’s parents.
Why does stigma around mental health still exist?
-Many people don’t know enough about mental illness and its treatment to be able to support those who are affected.
-Stigma around mental health is often brought up in the media, which creates a fear that anyone with mental illnesses could act in dangerous or violent ways against others. This can lead to an increase of discrimination and segregation for people with mental illnesses.
-Mental illness has historically been connected to a lack of morals, willpower and intelligence – perpetuating the idea that those who experience it are somehow defective.
-This stigma can also be found in schools, where teachers may not know how or when to teach about mental health issues as part of their curriculum because they are so sensitive.
-Stigma also presents a challenge for those who suffer from mental illness because it can prevent them from seeking the help they need, and may even lead to discrimination in their workplace or housing situation.
Mental health stigma is an ongoing issue that needs awareness, education and advocacy to end.
What factors influence stigma?
Some of the factors that influence mental health stigma are past misconceptions, lack of knowledge about mental illness and discrimination. The more we talk openly about what it’s like to live with a mental disorder or be someone who has experienced one in their family, the better off our society will be.
How can we prevent stigma in mental health?
-It is important for those with mental illness to be open about their condition and advocate for themselves.
-We should also listen without judgment, show compassion and empathy, refrain from spreading stigma and work together as a society towards acceptance of all people.
Understand that stigma is a public health issue, it’s not just about individual people and how they feel. It affects everyone, including those who don’t have mental illness because it influences our attitudes, beliefs and behaviors towards others. The more we talk openly about what it’s like to live with a mental disorder the better our society will grow positively.
What is the stigma of anxiety?
The stigma of anxiety is that it’s a sign of weakness or something to be ashamed about. It can also lead people with anxiety to isolate themselves and feel as if they will never be able to get better.
What stigma is associated with depression?
The stigma of depression is that it’s a character flaw and people with depression are simply lazy. It can also lead to blaming the person for their disorder, and telling them they need to “just snap out of it.”
Is mental health stigma decreasing?
Mental health stigma is decreasing because people are more open and willing to talk about mental disorders, but there’s still a long way to go.
What can be done?
There have been many campaigns for the reduction of stigma that were successful in changing attitudes, beliefs and behaviors towards others with mental disorder.
How can stigma affect people’s willingness to seek treatment?
Mental health stigma can affect people’s willingness to seek treatment for a few different reasons.
The first is the fear of being judged and discriminated against, which leads them to not want others to know that they are seeking help.
Secondly, there may be an overall lack of awareness about mental disorders or what treatments exist out there so that they don’t believe it’s an option.
Lastly, there may be a fear of the side effects that come with medication or treatment and the confusion that can come with those side effects.
On the other hand, there are some people who have been able to overcome these barriers and thrive after getting treatment for their mental health issue.
What activities help mental health?
Activities that help with mental health are many and varied. Some people find that engaging in an activity they enjoy or doing something new, like going to the theatre, helps them feel better about themselves for a while at least.
Other activities such as walking outdoors, yoga or even reading can be beneficial.
It is important to remember however not all activities will be as beneficial to some people.
It is always better to find out what works for you, instead of listening to other people’s advice.
How does stigma affect self esteem?
Many people find that they often have lower self esteem as a result of mental illness.
This is because societal stigma can lead to the idea that those with mental illnesses are deserving of blame for their condition or in some way less than other people, leading to feelings such as shame and guilt.
How does self-stigma develop?
A person can develop self-stigma after they have been diagnosed with a mental illness.
This is often due to the blame and shame society places on those who suffer from mental illnesses, leading many people with these conditions to feel less than other people.
What are some of the effects on stigma?
The effects of stigma vary depending on which form it takes: social or internalized.
Social stigma is when someone in society discriminates against another individual because that person has a mental illness; this discrimination could come in any number of forms such as bullying, gossiping, laughing at them etcetera.
Internalized stigma happens when an individual feels ashamed or embarrassed about their own diagnosis and thus labels themselves as somehow inferior to others.