Mental health - stigma and discrimination - Essay Example

?The Oxford English Dictionary defines stigma as a mark of disgrace or infamy. Sonia (2005) posits to the effect that “stigma is the use of stereotypes and labels when describing someone and it is often attached to people who suffer from mental health issues.” Mental health related illnesses can be attributed to alcohol and drug abuse as well as other psychological or natural causes. This essay seeks to critically analyse the concept of stigma from a historical perspective as well as outlining the theoretical framework upon which this concept is viewed in society. The essay will also discuss the impact of stigma on individual persons as well as the practical implications of anti stigma campaigns. From a historical perspective, it can be noted that people with mental health problems have been stigmatised for various reasons. Though it has not been scientifically proved in some instances, there are various misconceptions that are associated with mental health illnesses which lead to stigmatisation of the affected people. In many societies, many people believe that people with mental health problems have a weak character Sonia (2005). They are viewed as unpredictable and unreasonable as well to the extent that they are not treated as equal human beings with rights. It is not by choice in most cases for someone to be mentally ill as this can be associated with social problems that may lead to drug and alcohol abuse. Stigmatising such kind of people worsens the situation as they end up feeling that they do not fit in the societies they will be living in. Mentally ill people have also been viewed as potentially dangerous and violent. In some cases they may be dangerous but it is not always the case. These people need to be shown compassion for them to cope with their situation. Many people conveniently forget that any individual can also suffer from the same problem. Historically, mental health problems have been associated with bad behaviour the reason why people are sceptical to accept mentally ill people as equal human beings. The media has also played a part in fuelling the stigma against people with mental health problems. In some cases, people who are mentally ill are often portrayed as dangerous, violent and unpredictable on television. Thus, according to the stigma theory, people often develop conceptions of mental illness early in life from personal experience, family relations, media’s portrayal of people with mental health related issues (Link, Struening, Todd, Asmussen S & Phelan (2001) the other members of the society often form different conceptions about mentally ill people which ultimately leads to their rejection in society. Discrimination against mentally ill people is an issue of serious concern in every society as this exacerbates the situation. The affected people will feel alienated and it will be difficult for them to relate well with others in the society when they are looked down upon. To a certain extent, members of the society play a part in worsening the situation of mentally ill people through discrimination. Theoretically, “the stress and coping perspective on stigma indicates that stigma-related events for instance, being stigmatized or suffering rejection due to prejudice will be perceived as stressful only if they pose a threat that could exceed the person's resources for coping,” (Miller & Kaiser 2001). Stigma in this case can be detrimental to the affected person if he cannot cope with it successfully. From this perspective, it can be noted that stress related to mental illness can be dangerous if the affected person is not able to cope with it. It can be noted that the stigma associated with this problem worsens the situation which can be corrected if proper measures are put in place. There is need for the members of the society to treat their affected counterparts as human beings so that they can be better positioned to cope with the situation. Indeed, “stigma is a harsh reality for people who have mental health problems, because it prevents them from enjoying a normal and productive life,” (Sonia 2005). There are various impacts of stigma on the affected people. The major notable impact on stigma is that people affected by mental health problems feel uncomfortable to the extent of withdrawing from the society. Many people prefer to suffer in silence because they will be afraid of being ridiculed if they divulge the details of their mental state. Stigma often results in silence and when it comes to addressing problems related to mental health problems is disastrous as it can ruin the life of the affected person for good. In some cases, solutions can be found to the problems related to mental health problems if the problem is shared and is approached in a rational manner where it is treated as something that is ‘normal’ and can affect any body. Silence often suppresses public discussion about the problem and it deters people from finding the truth with regards to the problem. The affected people often suffer in silence because they are often misunderstood, isolated or ignored if they try to discuss their situation with others. People who suffer from mental health problems are excluded from day to day activities. They cannot freely socialise with the other people and it is difficult to visit places like pubs as they will be excluded by the ‘normal’ people. On top of that, some people have been denied loans and health insurance because of their history of mental health issues (http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/challenging-discrimination/what-discrimination/how-does-stigma-surrounding-mental-health-affect-live ). They are denied the opportunity to own businesses or property such as houses. As a result of this continual rejection by the members of the society, the affected people will ultimately lose their confidence which may cause further depression and anxiety which worsens the already bad situation they will be facing. People with mental health problems are denied the opportunity to look for jobs and work for themselves since they are rejected on condition of their mental state. According to some studies, about “one third of people with mental health problems report having been dismissed or forced to resign from their job and 70% of people with mental health problems have been put off applying for jobs, fearing unfair treatment,” (http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/challenging-discrimination/what-discrimination/how-does-stigma-surrounding-mental-health-affect-live ) . As the saying goes, disability does not mean inability. Though one may have mental health problems, he may still be capable of doing something constructive and meaningful at work which can also play a pivotal role in improving the welfare of that person. There is a distinction between a mad person and someone who is mentally ill. People with mental health problems are in some cases denied health care. They are not listened to by the health professionals and may not be able to seek medical treatment. This can worsen their already bad situation and this practice should be treated with the contempt it deserves. Every person regardless of creed, belief, culture or physical condition has a right to health. However, as a result of stigma and discrimination, it can be noted that many affected people die in silence as they are denied their right to get medication. If the problem is left unchecked, it can cause depression and anxiety and the affected person may ultimately takes his or her own life since the problem would have gone out of control. Life is a precious gift from God and everyone should be given the opportunity to access the needed health care with regards to mental health illnesses. According to the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario (2008), stigma is hurtful and it can be dangerous. It is quite difficult for someone with schizophrenia to be accepted by others in society and this often leads to discrimination. It is not by choice to have schizophrenia, but the affected people often find themselves at the receiving end as they are denied education, criminal justice, parenting as well as the other rights which are inalienable to every individual person. This leads to the affected people to hide their illness for fear of being openly marginalised or discriminated. This only worsens their situation hence appropriate measures ought to be put in place so as to fight this cancer in society which can prematurely kill the affected people as they will view themselves as unwanted and not belonging to any society. In fighting this cancerous disease of stigma against people with mental health problems, holistic measures ought to be put in place so as to minimise the deadly impacts of the illness on the affected people. As the adage goes, charity begins at home. There is need for the family members, friends as well as the other people in the society at large to show love and compassion to the mentally ill people. People must show that they are ready to listen to these people such that they can be able to cope with their difficult situation. Rejecting the mentally ill people aggravates their situation and concerted effort should be put by all the members of the society to accept these people as human beings. In actual fact, people with mental illnesses also need friendship and understanding just like anyone else. Through accepting them in the society, the severe impacts of their illnesses will be limited. The other solution with regards to stigma against people with mental health related problems lies in education and understanding. There is need to teach the members of the society that people with mental health problems are also human beings as well and they need to be shown love and compassion. There is need for the members of the society to lead by example whereby they can encourage the affected people to seek treatment and counselling so as to minimise the severe impacts of their problem. Raising awareness about this problem can go a long way in creating acceptance of these people in their respective societies. Once discrimination and stigma against mentally ill people have been removed, those who are affected will be in a better position to cope with their situation as they will also be able to go along with other members of the society. As it stands, research has shown that these people are isolated from the day to day activities and they cannot enjoy social life like others as they are rejected by the people. Another practical implication to this problem is lobbying through anti stigma campaigns. A good example of such a campaign is “The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ campaign, Changing Minds: Every Family in the Land.” This campaign is aimed at increasing understanding of six common mental disorders, to challenge preconceptions about them, and to close the gap between what health professionals and the public perceive as useful treatments. This campaign can go a long way in raising awareness among the members of the society that mental illness is not exactly the same way they perceive it but it is something that can be handled if people clearly understand it. Through changing the minds of the people, negative perceptions associated with this kind of illness can be removed which will be advantageous to the affected people as they can easily fit in their respective societies. This campaign seeks to offer a systematic and scientific approach to people with mental related illnesses. It also encompasses psychiatry which involves both physical and psychological treatments. According to the Mayo Clinic report (2010), the other practical implication in mitigating the severe impacts of stigma against people with mental health problem is through engaging non-profit making organisations that are specifically meant to cater for the needs of people with mental health problems. These can support people with mental health problems in many ways and they can fund their education. For instance, in US, there are quite a number of agencies and programs that are meant to support people who have mental health conditions. Some of the examples include state agencies such as Vocational Rehabilitation, Veterans Affairs (VA), and non profit organizations such as National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), which have national and local chapters. NAMI is an advocacy group which is specifically concerned with watching for and correcting stereotypes, misinformation and disrespectful portrayals of people with mental illnesses (Mayo Clinic report 2010). Over and above, it can be noted that stigma against people with mental health problems is a cancer in the society which must be removed for the benefit of the affected people. This stigma is a result of different perceptions about mental health problems of which some of them are not true. There are misconceptions that mentally ill people are, dangerous and violent but a closer analysis shows that this is not 100 % true. The major impact of stigma related to people with mental health illnesses is that they are isolated and rejected by the members of their society. Through education, advocacy and acceptance, this problem of stigmatisation against the mentally ill can be mitigated. References Link B.G, Struening L., Sheree Neese-Todd, Asmussen S & Phelan J.C. (2001). Stigma as a Barrier to Recovery: The Consequences of Stigma for the Self-Esteem of People With Mental Illnesses. Retrieved from: http://psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/52/12/1621 Mayo Clinic (05 November 2010). Mental health: Overcoming the stigma of mental illness. Retrieved from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mental-health/MH00076/NSECTIONGROUP=2 Miller C.T. &Kaiser C.R. (2001). A theoretical perspective on coping with stigma. Retrieved from: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0341/is_1_57/ai_75140962/pg_3/?tag=content;col1 Sartorius N. ( February 2002). Fighting stigma:theory and practice. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1489837/ Schizophrenia Society of Ontario (2008). What is stigma? Retrieved from: http://www.schizophrenia.on.ca/about-schizophrenia/5-stigma/8-what-is-stigma.html Sonia D (2005). What is stigma? Retrieved from: http://www.bipolarworld.net/Disability/Stigma/stigma12.htm Stigma and mental health illness-fact sheet (24 November 208). Retrieved from: http://www.sahealthinfo.org/mentalhealth/stigma.htm Time to change (2008). How does the stigma surrounding mental health does actually affects the people’s lives? Retrieved from: http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/challenging-discrimination/what-discrimination/how-does-stigma-surrounding-mental-health-affect-live The royal college of psychiatrists (Last update 11 September 2003). Changing minds. Retrieved from: http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/default.aspx?page=0 Read More