Mental Health Stigma Essay
Stigma is a mark of disgrace that sets a person apart(“NAMI”,n.d. para 2). When a person is labelled by their illness they are seen as part of a stereotyped group. Negative attitudes create prejudice which leads to negative actions and discrimination. Stigma can bring in the feeling and experiences of shame, blame, hopelessness, isolation, stereotypes, discrimination, distress, misinterpretation in the media, and reluctance to seek or accept necessary help (Government of Western Australia Mental Health Commission, n.d.,
Paragraph 1). By way of summary, Gullekson (in Fink & Tasman, 1992) writes about her brother's schizophrenia:
“For me stigma means …show more content…
fear, resulting in a lack of confidence. Stigma is loss, resulting in unresolved mourning issues. Stigma is not having access to resources…
Stigma is being invisible or being reviled, resulting in conflict. Stigma is lowered family esteem and intense shame
, resulting in decreased selfworth. Stigma is secrecy… Stigma is anger, resulting in distance. Most importantly, stigma is hopelessness, resulting in helplessness.” Stigma is principally a psychological and social phenomenon. It is first and foremost a social process that aims to exclude, reject, shame and devalue groups of people on the basis of a particular characteristic (MHCC, 2013). Stigma can be of various forms such as looking at a person for something they have and they don’t have and then treating them different because of that. It can also be a judgment about someone without even knowing anything about them. Believe it or not but more than half of people have prejudice and judgemental thinking. Stigma related to health issues is still a huge problem in our society because people who are victims of mental illnesses and having health issues not only undergo stigmatization but also discrimination based on the stigma and the attitude/behaviour of people surrounding them. Some of the major issues of stigmatization in our society under health issues are as such : mental illness and
HIV/AIDS. These being major concerns, I would be throwing light on these two topics in my thesis. “Mental Health and illness and its Stigma”
According to the World Health Organization, mental health can be viewed as a
“state of wellbeing in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” (NIMH, 2004). Mental health can also be described as one’s ability to work alone or with others, and to be able to make decision for themselves, which are beneficial to them. Every person has a mental health; some have good and some bad or the ones with mental illnesses. Mental illness and diseases are always in talks due to different views on them. Views may vary person to person and also depending on one’s culture, ethnicity, race, creed, beliefs and values. People, who suffer from symptoms of mental illnesses, are in need of a good support system to feel better and not decline in their health. Awareness in the society about different mental health conditions can play a very crucial part in helping the individual who is actually suffering from it but till date most mental illnesses are stigmatized by the society. For example, a woman with a mental illness may experience discrimination due to sexism as well as her illness, and a racialized individual may experience discrimination due to racism in addition to their mental illness.
In addition, living with stigma and discrimination can have a negative impact on mental health (Canadian mental health association ,Ontario).
People with mental health problem say that the stigma faced and experienced by them regarding their mental illness and discrimination made, results in increasing their difficulties(Mental health foundation, uk) resulting in decreasing one’s confidence.
Thirdfourth of people no longer feel like bringing their weaknesses up and asking for help as they are ashamed because till date our society consists of half a ratio of people who jump to conclusions and make their own assumptions without knowing the actual cause of illness. The cause for mental illness can be numerous such as family, friends, surroundings and much more . “ HIV/AIDS is lifethreatening disease and is a stigma in our society”
Now talking about Stigma related to HIV/AIDS. This is another major issue in our society as people who are victims of aids are dealt with a totally different perspective.
Stigma related to aids is actually life changing fact in our society and worldwide
because it is not only a negative stereotype but also a discrimination that makes the person feel as if they do not belong to our society and are surrounded with a different environment.
AIDSrelated stigma has had a profound effect on the epidemic’s course. The WHO cites fear of stigma and discrimination as the main reason why people are reluctant to be tested, to disclose their HIV status or to take antiretroviral drugs(WHO, 2011). We can say relate it to discrimination as the person undergoing therapy makes it much obvious to predict that person is having some kind of health issue. Most of the people suffering with
HIV spend most of their life in isolation because of society. This stigma not only makes it more difficult for people trying to come to terms with HIV and manage their illness on a personal level, but it also interferes with attempts to fight the HIV and AIDS epidemic as a whole. On a national level, the stigma associated with HIV can deter governments from taking fast, effective action against the epidemic, whilst on a personal level it can make individuals reluctant to access HIV testing, treatment and care (UNAIDS,2008).
There is major stigma related to HIV/AIDS because as we know these are life threatening and the behaviours which associate with hiv infection such as homosexuality, drug addiction and much more are taken into great consideration in our society as this infection is not curable. In most of the cases such hiv victims face rejection from not only the world but the ones whose support matters them the most and i.e. family. This is heartbreaking . Undergoing a test and being detected with hiv positive can be a turning wheel in one’s life. There is a lot of fear regarding hiv in people as they feel that if they are introduced to someone with hiv then they are most likely to get the infection from the victim by just a causal contact whereas in reality this is actually not true. Hiv does not transmit with casual contact or sharing water or as such. Not even bodily fluids like saliva or tears. Having a nonsafe sex, blood, breastfeeding, etc cause its transmission.
Research by the International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) found the possible consequences of HIVrelated stigma to be such as Loss of income/livelihood, loss of marriage & childbearing options, poor care within the health sector, withdrawal of caregiving in the home, loss of hope & feelings of worthlessness and loss of reputation(
ICRW, 2005). Here is one such example of a lady victim of HIV and this is what she said. :
“When I was in hospital, my father came once. Then he shouted that I had AIDS.
Everyone could hear. He said: this is AIDS, she’s a victim. With my brother and his wife
I wasn’t allowed to eat from the same plates, I got a plastic cup and plates and I had to sleep in the kitchen. I was not even allowed to play with the kids.” HIVpositive woman, Zimbabwe (Woudenberg J, 1998).
In my opinion, mental health is having a balance between mental, physical, psychological and sociological aspects of our life. Mental illnesses can affect anyone under any circumstances. Living in a porch house and having a good bank balance doesn’t protect anyone from not getting affected by mental illnesses. It is supported by biological factors, the place or environment where you are living, and most importantly as told earlier the genetics. Sometimes silence and ignorance is the best they can do, but not caring for them and leaving them out is wrong.
Paragraph 1). By way of summary, Gullekson (in Fink & Tasman, 1992) writes about her brother's schizophrenia:
“For me stigma means …show more content…
fear, resulting in a lack of confidence. Stigma is loss, resulting in unresolved mourning issues. Stigma is not having access to resources…
Stigma is being invisible or being reviled, resulting in conflict. Stigma is lowered family esteem and intense shame
, resulting in decreased selfworth. Stigma is secrecy… Stigma is anger, resulting in distance. Most importantly, stigma is hopelessness, resulting in helplessness.” Stigma is principally a psychological and social phenomenon. It is first and foremost a social process that aims to exclude, reject, shame and devalue groups of people on the basis of a particular characteristic (MHCC, 2013). Stigma can be of various forms such as looking at a person for something they have and they don’t have and then treating them different because of that. It can also be a judgment about someone without even knowing anything about them. Believe it or not but more than half of people have prejudice and judgemental thinking. Stigma related to health issues is still a huge problem in our society because people who are victims of mental illnesses and having health issues not only undergo stigmatization but also discrimination based on the stigma and the attitude/behaviour of people surrounding them. Some of the major issues of stigmatization in our society under health issues are as such : mental illness and
HIV/AIDS. These being major concerns, I would be throwing light on these two topics in my thesis. “Mental Health and illness and its Stigma”
According to the World Health Organization, mental health can be viewed as a
“state of wellbeing in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” (NIMH, 2004). Mental health can also be described as one’s ability to work alone or with others, and to be able to make decision for themselves, which are beneficial to them. Every person has a mental health; some have good and some bad or the ones with mental illnesses. Mental illness and diseases are always in talks due to different views on them. Views may vary person to person and also depending on one’s culture, ethnicity, race, creed, beliefs and values. People, who suffer from symptoms of mental illnesses, are in need of a good support system to feel better and not decline in their health. Awareness in the society about different mental health conditions can play a very crucial part in helping the individual who is actually suffering from it but till date most mental illnesses are stigmatized by the society. For example, a woman with a mental illness may experience discrimination due to sexism as well as her illness, and a racialized individual may experience discrimination due to racism in addition to their mental illness.
In addition, living with stigma and discrimination can have a negative impact on mental health (Canadian mental health association ,Ontario).
People with mental health problem say that the stigma faced and experienced by them regarding their mental illness and discrimination made, results in increasing their difficulties(Mental health foundation, uk) resulting in decreasing one’s confidence.
Thirdfourth of people no longer feel like bringing their weaknesses up and asking for help as they are ashamed because till date our society consists of half a ratio of people who jump to conclusions and make their own assumptions without knowing the actual cause of illness. The cause for mental illness can be numerous such as family, friends, surroundings and much more . “ HIV/AIDS is lifethreatening disease and is a stigma in our society”
Now talking about Stigma related to HIV/AIDS. This is another major issue in our society as people who are victims of aids are dealt with a totally different perspective.
Stigma related to aids is actually life changing fact in our society and worldwide
because it is not only a negative stereotype but also a discrimination that makes the person feel as if they do not belong to our society and are surrounded with a different environment.
AIDSrelated stigma has had a profound effect on the epidemic’s course. The WHO cites fear of stigma and discrimination as the main reason why people are reluctant to be tested, to disclose their HIV status or to take antiretroviral drugs(WHO, 2011). We can say relate it to discrimination as the person undergoing therapy makes it much obvious to predict that person is having some kind of health issue. Most of the people suffering with
HIV spend most of their life in isolation because of society. This stigma not only makes it more difficult for people trying to come to terms with HIV and manage their illness on a personal level, but it also interferes with attempts to fight the HIV and AIDS epidemic as a whole. On a national level, the stigma associated with HIV can deter governments from taking fast, effective action against the epidemic, whilst on a personal level it can make individuals reluctant to access HIV testing, treatment and care (UNAIDS,2008).
There is major stigma related to HIV/AIDS because as we know these are life threatening and the behaviours which associate with hiv infection such as homosexuality, drug addiction and much more are taken into great consideration in our society as this infection is not curable. In most of the cases such hiv victims face rejection from not only the world but the ones whose support matters them the most and i.e. family. This is heartbreaking . Undergoing a test and being detected with hiv positive can be a turning wheel in one’s life. There is a lot of fear regarding hiv in people as they feel that if they are introduced to someone with hiv then they are most likely to get the infection from the victim by just a causal contact whereas in reality this is actually not true. Hiv does not transmit with casual contact or sharing water or as such. Not even bodily fluids like saliva or tears. Having a nonsafe sex, blood, breastfeeding, etc cause its transmission.
Research by the International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) found the possible consequences of HIVrelated stigma to be such as Loss of income/livelihood, loss of marriage & childbearing options, poor care within the health sector, withdrawal of caregiving in the home, loss of hope & feelings of worthlessness and loss of reputation(
ICRW, 2005). Here is one such example of a lady victim of HIV and this is what she said. :
“When I was in hospital, my father came once. Then he shouted that I had AIDS.
Everyone could hear. He said: this is AIDS, she’s a victim. With my brother and his wife
I wasn’t allowed to eat from the same plates, I got a plastic cup and plates and I had to sleep in the kitchen. I was not even allowed to play with the kids.” HIVpositive woman, Zimbabwe (Woudenberg J, 1998).
In my opinion, mental health is having a balance between mental, physical, psychological and sociological aspects of our life. Mental illnesses can affect anyone under any circumstances. Living in a porch house and having a good bank balance doesn’t protect anyone from not getting affected by mental illnesses. It is supported by biological factors, the place or environment where you are living, and most importantly as told earlier the genetics. Sometimes silence and ignorance is the best they can do, but not caring for them and leaving them out is wrong.