The Fallout From Mental Health Stigma

What is Stigma?

Stigma is the use of stereotypes and labels when describing someone, and it is often attached to people suffering from mental problems. We do not fully understand how the brain works yet, but one thing we know is that it is a body. But our society does not readily accept brain the way we accept other organ disorders. Why is it so?

Stigma is a harsh reality for people who have psychological problems because it prevents them from enjoying a normal and productive lives. So many people today feel uncomfortable about mental health issues, despite the fact that there are growing signs that more and more people are developing these problems. Actually many people so uncomfortable with the stigma that they would rather suffer in silence than get help they need.

Here are a few of the most common misconceptions about mental health problems:

• Mentally ill people have a weak character
• Mentally ill people are potentially dangerous.
• People with mental illness should just "snap out of it"
• Mentally ill people are violent

The media has only further strengthened our distorted notions about mental health issues. Frequently, characters on television and in films having a mental illness are depicted as dangerous, unpredictable and violent.

What are the effects of stigma?

If you were sick you would go to a doctor. When you are feeling better, you'd expect to get on with life as usual.

But it is not so easy for people suffering from mental illness. Often, they suffer from persistent rejections and exclusions by ill-informed members of the community. Some people have been denied loans, health insurance and jobs because of their history of mental problems. That is why these people lose their confidence and may develop further anxiety or depression, on top of the issues they already face.

What can we do?

We all have times when we feel depressed, anxious or angry. We could even have some bad days where we think that nothing will ever go right for us and the world is against us. For a mentally ill person, these feelings do not disappear.

So the answer is education and understanding. If you know someone who seems very emotional, or overturning, as an example, show compassion and understanding, and encourage them to seek help. And if you have to ask yourself, find solace in the fact that you are not alone and that there is hope.