Types of Stigma in Mental Health
The paper aims to study and present what stigma in mental health means and how does it affect the people who suffer from mental health issues. Modern society is getting better at being equipped for responding to the needs of the people since a staggering number of the population is experiencing mental health challenges with the passage of time. However, prejudices, discrimination and stigma remain at the core of the troubles that people with mental illnesses face (Henderson and Gronholm2018). Most people with mental health challenges do not receive adequate aid for their illnesses. Often, people experiencing mental health issues delay or avoid seeking professional help due to being mistreated or in fear of being laidoff from their jobs and losing their livelihood. No matter the degree extent of stigma around mental health, whether subtle or obvious, it can cause harm.
The stigma around mental health issues arises from the lack of knowledge and understanding or fear. Inaccurate and false misinterpretations of mental illness can lead to stigma and discrimination. A study published in The Lancet by Vigo (2016) states that while the general population have accepted the genetic or medical nature pertaining to mental health disorders and the requirement for treatment, most people persist in having an ill view of those experiencing mental illness. There are various kinds of stigma like public stigma, self-stigma and intuitional stigma. Public stigma, as the name suggests, involves the discriminatory and prejudiced attitudes and behaviours of others regarding mental disorders. Self-stigma occurs in people facing mental health issues who have negative behaviours and internalised shame towards themselves (Tzouvara, Papadopoulos and Randhawa 2018). Institutional stigma involves a more systemic issue involving government policies and private institutions that unintentionally or intentionally restricts opportunities for the people suffering from mental health conditions; for instance, fewer mental health care facilities and lower financing for research in the mental health field. Stigma against mental health affects individuals as well as their families and loved ones. It can be an issue for the ethnic and racial communities to access healthcare services and pose as a barrier. For instance, in many Asian communities, seeking professional aid for mental health is a challenge due to their belief in strong family morale, avoiding shame and emotional restraint. The shame, marginalisation and ostracism that people with mental health faces are sometimes more consuming than the disease itself. Stigma, prejudices and discrimination around mental illness contribute to deteriorating symptoms and reduce the likelihood of getting professional help. Some effects of stigma include lower self-esteem, reduced hope, difficulties in building social relationships, increased symptoms of the illness, decreased likelihood of adherence to the treatments, and difficulties at the workplace. Self-stigma is also connected with poor recovery. Effects of stigma also include reluctance in seeking professional help and treatment, and the person facing stigma might have difficulties adhering to the treatment (Schnyder et al., 2017). People with mental illness facing stigma and discrimination not only get ostracised by society but in some cases, their friends, family, co-workers and loved ones lack empathy and understanding,which increases the chances of self-harming. They find fewer opportunities in school, work and social activities and find it challenging to look for housing. Bullying and harassment are other illeffects of stigma on people with mental health conditions.
The Negative Effects of Stigma on Mental Health
A national poll in 2019 conducted by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) investigated that stigma surrounding mental health is a major concern and a challenge for the people in their workplace. More than half of the employees showed concern regarding discussing their mental health conditions with their employers. About one in three showed concerns about the repercussions they would face if they sought professional care with the high chances of being laid-off (Brouwers 2020). Only one among five employees showed comfort in speaking about their mental health challenges. The millennials were more likely to be comfortable talking about their mental health than the baby boomers, with a rate of 62% vs. 32%.To address the challenges, it is best to have an association with someone living with mental illness. When someone having mental health challenges speaks out, they can have an impact on their close ones. Having a friend or an acquaintance with mental illness helps is reducing the prejudices and stigma around the illness. Many famous people, including celebrities,have shared their stories surrounding mental health challenges publicly,which has made the discussion come under the spotlight in everyday and regular conversations. The younger generations look for guidance and information through these personal stories (Kim and Jia 2020). Most of the younger generations living with mental health disorders and symptoms of mental illness seek other people’s lived experiences through podcasts, blogs, and videos in order to obtain information regarding the disease. Hence social media is a strong platform for outreach and campaigns to effectively ploy against the stigma and discrimination. Social media campaigns would not only help reduce the stigma but increase awareness and help people to better understand the symptoms of distress. As an individual of the society, it is important for one to help address the problems around stigma by talking openly regarding mental health, for instance, sharing personal lived experiences on social media, and responding to negative and misjudged comments by presenting facts. It is also important to be conscious of the language one uses, especially since words matter. Promoting equality between mental and physical health and drawing comparisons between the two; for instance,any physical illness like diabetes or cancer requires medical help;similarly, mental illness requires professional help as well. Showing compassion choosing empowerment,and normalising mental illness treatment also helps reduces the effects of stigma. Many companies are coming up with ways to promote mental health awareness and making efforts to decrease the stigma surrounding mental illness.Some ways in which companies and organisations are working towards reducing stigma and promoting awareness arecustomising programs that can add to the existing strengths and culture of the company, making the workplace a healthy environment, training employees to recognise emotional distress among their peers and taking prompt action in making referrals, and by welcoming the need for assistance and accommodations.
Increasing public knowledge and education regarding mental health disorders is crucial since most stigmas arise from misplaced fear and lack of knowledge regarding the subject (Elraz, H., 2018). It is essential to review reliable information sources about mental health and mental illness and become well-informed instead of showing prejudiced behaviour when a co-worker or a family member is diagnosed. People living with mental health disorders should get involved in their medical treatment and can also ask for assistance if their disorders incapacitate them to navigate through daily activities, including availing housing, healthcare and employment. An advocate or a trained professional can help them work through medical appointments, employment disputes and housing or financial claims. It is also crucial that the person suffering from mental health challenges does not isolate themselves from their family and friends and seek the help of professionals. The person suffering from a mental illness should not equate their illness with themselves. This will only create more self-doubt and shame; instead of saying “I am schizophrenic”, one should say, “I have schizophrenia”. Mental illness is a disease like any other physical condition and does not equate to the person having the illness.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that stigma is a complicated challenge that is difficult to overcome. However, the aforementioned steps can guide a person experiencing stigma around mental health conditions. Every person in society has a role in reducing mental health stigma. Educating oneself is necessary in this modernday and age in order to better understand the life that people with mental health conditions live. Educating oneself also helps to dispel the myths and prejudices they have been holding. Understanding, compassion and education are all equally essential to eliminating mental health stigma.
References
American Psychiatric Association, 2019. About Half of Workers Are Concerned about Discussing Mental Health Issues in the Workplace; A Third Worry about Consequences if They Seek Help. Psychiatry.org. Available at: https://www.psychiatry.org/newsroom/news-releases/about-half-of-workers-are-concerned-about-discussing-mental-health-issues-in-the-workplace-a-third-worry-about-consequences-if-they-seek-help [Accessed 7 April 2022].
Brouwers, E.P., 2020. Social stigma is an underestimated contributing factor to unemployment in people with mental illness or mental health issues: position paper and future directions. BMC psychology, 8(1), pp.1-7.
Elraz, H., 2018. Identity, mental health and work: How employees with mental health conditions recount stigma and the pejorative discourse of mental illness. Human Relations, 71(5), pp.722-741.
Henderson, C. and Gronholm, P.C., 2018. Mental health related stigma as a ‘wicked problem’: the need to address stigma and consider the consequences. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(6), p.1158.
Kim, D. and Jia, F., 2020. “Ever wondered what schizophrenia was?”: Students’ digital storytelling about mental disorders. Journal of Curriculum Studies Research, 2(2), pp.144-169.
Schnyder, N., Panczak, R., Groth, N. and Schultze-Lutter, F., 2017. Association between mental health-related stigma and active help-seeking: systematic review and meta-analysis. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 210(4), pp.261-268.
Tzouvara, V., Papadopoulos, C. and Randhawa, G., 2018. Self-stigma experiences among older adults with mental health problems residing in long-term care facilities: A qualitative study. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 39(5), pp.403-410.
Vigo, D., 2016. The health crisis of mental health stigma. The Lancet, 387(10023), p.1027.
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