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"It's not my mental illness. It's what you think of my mental illness." - Runbin
Brief overview of stigma
Myths of mental illnesses which contribute to the stigma
The impact of society's stigma on mental illness and its sufferers
Anti-Stigma actions we can take
stories of stigma
Brief overview of stigma
"It's not my mental illness. It's what you think of my mental illness." - Runbin
Imagine not seeking help for binge-purging. Because of the stigma. Imagine not seeking help for insomnia and the blues. Because of the stigma. Imagine not seeking help for hallucinations. Because of the stigma. Imagine not seeking help for your obsessions and compulsions. Because of the stigma.
Imagine keeping your illness all to yourself, fearing talking about your condition, simply because you fear that your friends will shun you and judge you. Because of the stigma.
Myths of mental illnesses which contribute to the stigma
- Mental illness sufferers are violent and dangerous.
The majority of people who are "violent" and "dangerous" do not suffer from mental illness. It is the frequent inaccurate dramatic depiction and protrayal in the media of mental illness sufferers that reinforces the fear of the general public that mental illness sufferers are violent.
- Mental illnesses cannot be cured.
Mental illnesses can be cured with treatment.
- Mental illnesses only happens to certain people
Mental illness can happen to anyone of all race, age, gender and background.
- Mentally ill people are mentally weak that's why they suffer from mental illness
That is very far off from the truth. In fact, many mentally ill people are very strong to continue to live and stay on living despite their illness and the sheer amount of medication they have to take and emotional and mental pain they have to endure. Does that not take strength and courage?
Winston Churchill (Prime Minister of Britain during World War 2 days) has been known to suffer from mental illness.
- Mental illness sufferers can control or "will" away their condition if they want to.
Too many people misperceive that mental illnesses such as depression is something they can "snap out of it" and make it go away. It is a misperception that the person should just "get their act together" and "look on the bright side of life" and things will get better. Mental illness is a genuine medical condition that needs treatment.
The next time we suffer from a cough or a flu, ask ourselves, can we snap our fingers or tell our illness to go away and it simply happens? If that does not happen, then try to understand the same applies to mental illnesses.
- There's nothing I can do for them myth
This myth probably originates from people's feeling that they have to solve all the emotional problems, trauma of others as if they should be responsible for other people's feelings and problems. The minute they feel they can't, they just give up.
There is plenty of things we can do for mental illness sufferers. First and foremost, treat them like any other friend of yours. Show them the acceptance and respect any human being deserves.
We need not solve their illness. Let their counselors or doctors do that for them. As a family member or friend, what we can do is to encourage them and help them to seek medical treatment.
- They are mentally retarded
Having a mental illness and being mentally retarded are not the same. Many mental illness sufferers are very intelligent. Abraham Lincoln and Winston Churchill were once the former United States President and England's Prime Minister respectively and they have been known to suffer from mental illness.
- They cannot contribute to society
This too again isn't necessarily true. There are recovering mentally ill sufferers whom are working and contributing to society out there.
The impact of society's stigma on mental illness and its sufferers
The prejudice of society is such that mental illness sufferers are being discriminated. For a medical condition that can happen to anyone, they are being treated differently. They can't get jobs easily, with a fair number resorting to not declaring about their condition in order to secure a job. Likewise, there are schools which prevent them from entering or taking up certain courses because of their condition
Because of the stigma, denial is also one of the most prevailing problems that mental illness sufferers face. Family, friends and love ones may not accept that the person they know has a mental illness condition, preferring to believe that they are fine. As a result, they may do or say things that hinder the individual's route to recovery.
To those going through mental illness, they may fear seeking treatment because of the stigma and labels (thinking that you might be crazy just because you have mental illness), which again prevents them from recovering. It isn't difficult to see why, they fear they may lose their jobs or affect their daily functioning in life.
Anti-Stigma actions we can take
- Educate yourself on mental illness. The willingness to open oneself up to explore and discover more about mental illness is the first step to fighting stigma.
- Talk openly about mental illness. Mental illness or going through mental illness isn't something shameful
- Learn more about mental health stigma and discrimination and find out the myths of mental illnesses that people often have that resulted in the reinforcing of mental illness stigma. Educate yourself on the various myths of mental illnesses and understand why they aren't true.
- Don't judge those going through mental illness. See them as any person worthy of our respect and friendship. Show them the compassion and kindness all human beings deserve to receive
Mood Disorders Society of Canada did a simple but wonderful powerpoint presentation on anti-stigma. You can view or download the powerpoint presentation at the below link http://www.mooddisorderscanada.ca/Stigma/pdfs/language_hurts_ken-cc.ppt
Last updated on: 2nd August 2007
