We’ve come a long way in diagnosing mental illness, providing counseling and developing new psychoactive medications. But, how much have societal attitudes changed about people diagnosed with certain types of mental or emotional disorders? Does the stigma of mental illness still loom large in our culture? How are people with mental disorders portrayed in movies or television? After reviewing some recent literature about this issue, I’ve got a few answers.
The Stigma of Mental Illness
What is a stigma? It comes from the Greek word stigmata, which means a mark of shame, a stain or discredit, or an identifiable characteristic. When we pair stigma with mental illness, it can mean how we feel about people with mental problems, our attitudes towards them, and our reactions or behaviors towards them. In order for stigma to exist, we must first identify marks of mental illness in a person, begin to think in stereotypical ways about the individual and then discriminate against him or her.
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Some experts in the field of psychology and psychiatry believe that people suffering from various forms of mental health problems are some of the most discriminated, stigmatized and marginalized people in society. These individuals can also be some of the most disadvantaged and vulnerable. So many misconceptions, stereotypes, negative connotations and false assumptions may be as harmful as the mental disorder itself.
Stigma has the ability to destroy one’s self-esteem, self-image and ego as well as limit one’s opportunities for schooling, employment and even housing. It can chip away at the person’s confidence and lead to social and emotional withdrawal. Some individuals may experience self-stigma which involves internalizing stigma and believing the falsehoods about their condition, leading them to assume they will be rejected from society and that they are of no value.
Diagnosis Matters
Researchers interested in the stigma associated with various types of mental illness believe that the diagnosis itself may influence perception of people with mental illnesses. For instance, many people associate schizophrenia with unpredictable and dangerous behaviors. People who suffer from substance abuse problems may be viewed as dangerous, too, but they are to blame for their condition. Some people believe those suffering from depression or anxiety can simply “snap out of it” if they wanted to. Regardless of type of diagnosis, people with mental illness are generally thought to be incapable of raising or being responsible for children, they have less intelligence, and cannot make logical decisions.
Why Does Stigma Still Exist?
Both stigma and discrimination of people with mental illness are linked to ignorance of mental health. The majority of society knows little about mental illness and what they do know is flawed, coming from movies, television, and the Internet. Many people believe that schizophrenia means to have multiple personalities, which is absolutely incorrect. There are those who believe people with Autism, ADHD and other learning disabilities, are mentally ill. Despite these beliefs, there does appear to be more acceptance and a push towards educating society about mental health. There are more professional organizations and groups today bringing these issues into the light. This is important because some studies report that people with mental health problems admit that some of the biggest challenges to getting better and carrying on with their lives are not the symptoms of their illness. Instead, it is the attitudes of society that dampen their aspirations to live their lives.
Final Words on Mental Illness and Stigma
Stigma of mental illness has been around probably since the dawn of humanity. There are examples throughout history demonstrating society’s attitudes towards those who act differently based on their mental health, or lack of it. The best way to conquer stigma is through education. The old saying “People fear what they don’t know” comes to mind. The more people become educated on the facts about mental illness, it becomes less frightening. After all, 25% of Americans will experience some form of mental health problem in their lifetime. Who wants to be stigmatized for that?
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