Stigma Mental Illness

Stigma and Mental Illness
Numerous studies have been conducted in order to help us as a society better understand what leads to the stigma that is attached to many mental illnesses. The most dramatic component of mental illness stigmatization is discrimination. Individuals who have been labeled with a mental illness experience discrimination in the workplace, healthcare and educational systems, and discrimination socially (Cummings, Lucas, and Druss, 2013). The development of the stigma consists of four main components: stereotypes, prejudice, cues, and discrimination, which can later develop into a public, structural, courtesy, or self-stigma. With the interaction of all of these components, the quality of life for an individual with mental
illness can be decreased significantly (Corrigan, 2004).
Stigma can collectively be defined as ‘an attribute that is deeply discrediting.’ The recognition of such attribute leads the stigmatized individual to be ‘reduced...from a whole and usual person to a tainted and discounted one’ (Goffman, 1963). Thus, stigma is the active relationship between attribute and stereotype (Brohan, Slade, Clement, Thornicroft, 2010). In layman's terms, stigmatized individuals are those that deviate from the “norm,” leading to the perceived notion that they are not fit for proper social interaction. This flawed perception can lead people to believe that these individuals are not skilled enough, or have the ability, to interact socially. If they are then viewed as socially illegitimate, stigmatized individuals may then be labeled as a sort of social outcast, and may be excluded from further social interaction, and even discrimination (Elliott, Ziegler, Altman, Scott, 1982).
According to Corrigan, there are four main components that help to create stigma. Those components include: cues, stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. Individuals tend to refer to four cues in order to infer mental illness in an individual. Those cues include: psychiatric symptoms, social-skill deficits, physical appearance and labels (Corrigan, 2004).
Secondly, many stereotypes exist when it comes to those who suffer from mental illness. A stereotype is a collectively held idea about a group of people that is widely agreed upon by the public. Many individuals apply stereotypes to help aid them in future social situations, but often times, stereotypes are overgeneralized and can lead to error in judgment. Common stereotypes associated with individuals suffering from mental illnesses are violence, incompetence, and blame. These individuals are dangerous, are lack of being independent, and are responsible for the continuation of their condition. On the contrary, stereotypes can be acknowledged but not be implemented. Many individuals are aware of the stereotypes that exist toward groups of people, but they disagree with them, therefore they do not implement them into their social interactions (Corrigan, 2004).
If an individual does agree with the stereotypes, and they elicit negative emotional reactions, they in turn develop a prejudice toward that group of people. Prejudice, which is a set of negative feelings and attitudes toward a group, can then in turn develop into discrimination, which is negative action/behavior directed toward a particular group. A type of discrimination that is particularly directed toward mentally ill individuals is known as avoidance. For example, an employer may choose not to hire someone because they suffer from a mental illness, or they believe the person to be mentally ill (Corrigan, 2004).
Currently, four different types of stigmas have been identified: public, structural, courtesy, and self-stigma.
Negative stereotypic beliefs that are globally held contribute to the formation of public stigma, and further manifests itself when a group or community withholds help, avoids contact, or segregates those affected by a particular mental illness. When negative stereotypes interfere with law or public policy, they are contributing to structural stigma, which can lead to discrimination of rights directed at individuals who have been diagnosed with a particular mental illness. Courtesy stigma can form by basic association with an individual who has a diagnosed or perceived mental illness. This is particularly common among the parents and family members of individuals with mental illness. They are essentially blamed for “causing” or “making their illness worse.” Self-stigma can manifest when a mentally ill individual begins to internalize the negative stereotypes associated with their illness. This can lead them to be reluctant to seek and adhere to treatment, withdrawal socially, and not fulfil their full potential in the workplace. Self-stigma can lead to a dramatic decrease in self-esteem, as well as quality of life for the affected individual (Theurer, Jean-Paul, Cheyney, Koro-Ljungberg, & Stevens. 2015).
According to researchers, the construct of modern-day stigma has stemmed from the outdated belief that mental illnesses are caused by supernatural forces. In ancient primitive civilizations, religious groups and governments would “control” the mentally ill via incarceration and/or isolation in order to preserve a rather normative social construct. As time went on, these practices became rather solidified social norms (Theurer et al.,
2015).
Theurer et al. (2015) noted that ethnic and religious influence may be strong when it comes to the understanding of mental illness, and the development of stigma around mental illness. Many of the participants in the study admitted that they didn’t seek treatment because it was discouraged by their religious leaders. Thirty percent of 300 self-identified Christian participants of an online survey analyzed by Stanford in 2007 reported having negative interactions with their churches, in terms of mental illness. Another study of 52 women who identified as White Christian, Pakistani Muslim, Indian Hindu, Orthodox Jewish and Afro-Caribbean Christian revealed that more than 80% believed that prayer was an effective treatment for depression. These same participants also admitted that their ethnicity did in fact impact their views on mental illness and mental health services (Theurer et al., 2015).