Misconception Of Mental Health

Problem Statement
The misconception of mental illness and the stigma that follows can exacerbate the difficulties faced by Barbadians living with mental health problems, causing an impact on them seeking mental health care and maintaining their optimal levels of functioning.
What is mental Health
Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.
The positive dimension of mental health is stressed in WHO's definition of health as contained in its constitution: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely
the absence of disease or infirmity." [abstract from the World Health Organisation]
Stigma attached with mental illness refers to the view that persons with mental illness are marked, have undesirable traits, or deserve reproach because of their mental illness (Corrigan & Penn, 1999).
Stigma leads to negative behavior and stereotyping and to discriminatory behavior toward persons with mental illness (Davidson et al.,1998). Major depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide among persons five and older. (World Health Organization, "Global Burden of Disease," 1996), Depression ranks among the top three workplace issues, following only family crisis and stress. Stigma may cause affected persons to experience denial, rejection and to feel shame about their condition. Despite the existence of effective treatments for mental disorders, there is a belief that people with mental disorders are difficult, not intelligent, or incapable of making decisions. Many people with serious mental illness are challenged doubly. On one hand, they struggle with the symptoms and disabilities that result from the disease. On the other, they are challenged by the stereotypes and prejudice that result from misconceptions about mental illness. Because of both, people with mental illness are robbed of the opportunities that define a quality life: good jobs, satisfactory health care, and affiliation with a diverse group of
people. Barbadians living with mental illness have been marginalized and stigmatized more than any other. If you are known to be afflicted with a mental illness the average Barbadian will shun you like a leper. If you want to live a ‘normal’ life visiting the Psychiatric Hospital may seem like a death sentence due to the stigma attached to the institution. The first misconception is that people who need psychiatric care should be locked away in the Psychiatric Hospital. As a result, patients who are hospitalized find it difficult to be reintegrated into society since many of their families refuse to take them back. As a society, we must dispel this myth by educating ourselves about mental illness learning that once the patient is on medication he/she can return to some normalcy.
The second misconception is that persons suffering from mental illness are hopeless and incompetent. This misconception has robbed people of the opportunity to have a normal life. They are denied gainful employment and those who gain employment are sometimes given low wages and not treated fairly.
The behavioural impact (of discrimination) that results from public stigma and discrimination can become internalized, leading to the development of self-stigma: People with mental illness may begin to believe the negative thoughts expressed by others and, in turn, think of themselves as unable to recover, undeserving of care, dangerous, or responsible for their illnesses. This can lead them to feel shame, low self-esteem, and inability to accomplish their goals. Self-stigma can also lead to the development of the “why try” effect, whereby people believe that they are unable to recover and live normally so “why try?” To avoid being discriminated against, some people may also try to avoid being labeled as “mentally ill” by denying or hiding their problems and refusing to seek out care.
The effects of stigma on people living with mental illness causes them to:
 Reluctance to seek help or treatment
 Lack of understanding by family, friends, co-workers or others
 Fewer opportunities for work, school or social activities or trouble finding housing
 Bullying, physical violence or harassment
 Health insurance that doesn't adequately cover your mental illness treatment
 The belief that you'll never succeed at certain challenges or that you can't improve your situation
Although stigmatizing attitudes are not limited to mental illness, the public seems to disapprove persons with psychiatric disabilities significantly more than persons with related conditions such as physical illness. Severe mental illness has been linked to drug addiction, prostitution, and criminality. Unlike physical disabilities, persons with mental illness are perceived by the public to be in control of their disabilities and responsible for causing them. Furthermore, although the literature is there and persons may have family members affected by mental illness, some individuals are less likely to pity persons with mental illness, instead reacting to psychiatric disability with anger and believing that help is not deserved.
Years ago, diagnoses such as ‘Idiot’ were seen on patient’s notes and they were treated as such by family members based on the educational guidance of the professionals. Special needs children with violent traits could be found chained in sheds in the yard and fed inhumanly. These practices we can say could have been out of fear and lack of education, but in the 21st century, we see medical advancements in treatment and approaches towards individuals suffering from mental disorders. Persons aren’t hospitalized longer than clinically needed, diagnosed are more medically based and integration into society is part of the rehabilitative focus.
Unfortunately, stigma can be expressed by health professions and the public alike, leaving the training received is practically applied secondary to the knowledge gained, while in the clinical settings.
It is unfortunate that when a person enters the gates of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, unless a person is admitted to a ward that the callobra of patient placed on that ward, persons are simply ill and in need of care. It is disappointing to see health professions speedily looking to discharge a patient out of the emergency room as a mental illness is made known, due to the perception that the person may start to act ‘crazy’ patient’s mental illness is the first to be handed over that may have no impact on the physical ailment at the time. Where is the professionalism amongst the professions, why aren’t persons seen as simply ill when they enter the Psychiatric Hospital? Stigma can exist out of stupidity but when it is expressed by persons trained to know differently, it has gone pass the level the stupidity but just down right ignorance, leaving nothing for the public to
express.
Change strategies for public stigma have been grouped into three approaches: protest, education, and contact. Groups protest inaccurate and hostile representations of mental illness to challenge the stigmas they represent. These efforts send two messages. To the media: STOP reporting inaccurate representations of mental illness. To the public: STOP believing negative views about mental illness. Anecdotal evidence suggests that protest campaigns have been effective in getting stigmatizing images of mental illness withdrawn. There is, however, little empirical research on the psychological impact of protest campaigns on stigma and discrimination, suggesting an important direction for future research.
Protest is a reactive strategy; it attempts to diminish negative attitudes about mental illness, but fails to promote more positive attitudes that are supported by facts. Education provides information so that the public can make more informed decisions about mental illness. This approach to changing stigma has been most thoroughly examined by investigators. Research, for example, has suggested that persons who evince a better understanding of mental illness are less likely to endorse stigma and discrimination. Hence, the strategic provision of information about mental illness seems to lessen negative stereotypes. Several studies have shown that participation in education programs on mental illness led to improved attitudes about persons with these problems. Education programs are effective for a wide variety of participants, including college undergraduates, graduate students, adolescents, community residents, and persons with mental illness. Stigma is further diminished when members of the public meet persons with mental illness who can hold down jobs or live as good neighbors in the community.
In conclusion, eradiating stigma against the mentally ill will not be an easy task. However, we can start by refrain from the use of words such as crazy, mad, psycho, just to name a few.
The Government also needs to put a policy in place that protects the mentally ill from stigma and discrimination in the workplace and make it mandatory that mental health and well-being are incorporated in the school’s curriculum. More publicized data more than news articles need to be readily available for those who may have a strong interest to the fight and eradication of discriminations of the mentally ill