The term ‘Stigma’ is a Greek word used for a mark or burn engraved on the skin to signify disgrace, opprobrium, or infamy. This is eerily similar to what the phrase ‘Stigma surrounding Mental Health’ conveys, that humans with deteriorated state of mental health are encompassed by a mark of shame and notoriety.
Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding mental health still prevails evidently. Even though mental health problems are a very common problem affecting thousands, it is viewed as something that we should be ashamed of. People who require assistance face discrimination and undergo experiences where they feel neglected and are told that their feelings are invalid or ‘not as serious as they think it is’. This in turn takes a stir on their mental health, and makes them feel helpless. This may come around from family members, friends, employers, a healthcare professional, or even society, in general. Such opinions and outlooks towards these issues even restrain them from seeking assistance in the first place. Some people may even have internalised stigma and tell themselves that they don’t require help.
It’s high time that we discover and analyse the existence of stigma surrounding mental health, and look into why such stigmas exist among us.
Why are Mental Health problems stigmatized?
Lamentably, Mental Health problems remain a topic that cannot be fully understood by all. This is largely because of the misconceptions they hold regarding certain diagnoses and the people who face mental health issues. People are not aware of the assistance available to them, or the kind of professional they should seek help from. Besides all of this, people tend to believe that mental health problems are ‘not real’ and do not require immediate attention. They tend to brush it off by believing it is all in their head and grow ignorant about how they feel. On the other hand, for those who muster up the courage to open up to someone, the listener may go oblivious and ask the person to cheer up or to stay strong. This makes them believe that they aren’t as strong as they think they are and grow ashamed to seek help later on. Such issues are very much overlooked and sadly, no one realises how they could have helped until it’s too late.
There are also instances where people believe that terms such as ‘anxiety’, ‘depression’, or ‘bad mental health’ are just excuses for people to take out time for themselves. These problems are commonly found in workplaces where the employer refuses to acknowledge the problems of their employees, and are often looked down on when the employee demands time to get back on track. There also exists a plethora of stereotypes that arise from society that is quite common among us and probably some of those we have gone through as well.
There is a common misconception where people with mental health issues are labelled ‘dangerous’ or ‘evil’. But in reality, they are the ones who require immediate assistance, and are at a higher risk of harming themselves than others. This is mainly due to the idea reinforced by the media, where they link ill mental health with violence. This makes it nearly impossible to seek help, and lead a fulfilling life.
How does stigmatization of Mental Health issues affect people?
It has been found that nearly nine of ten people face negative impacts due to the exiting stigma and discrimination surrounding Mental Health. Some of the common issues faced by them include:
Failing to acknowledge an individual’s struggle can make them feel worthless and insecure about having a mental health issue in the first place. They may feel like they are inviting unwanted attention or they may get allied out for seeking attention.
Not being able to seek help from the right resource/mental health professional may delay the process of recovery or may take an adverse turn if the right assistance is not provided to the individual.
Those struggling with mental health issues may have difficulties in establishing long-term relationships, sticking to a routine, finding employment, and belonging to mainstream society.
Kids or teenagers who face minor issues refuse to acknowledge them and tend to bottle up their thoughts without opening up to someone. This makes them feel insecure, and develop anxiety and related issues at a very early stage.
Those who despise seeking assistance from a professional tend to have a very narrow outlook towards those who seek assistance as they have stigmatized views about seeking help regarding mental health. Their biased opinions may in turn affect those who are willing to seek help, and may sound discouraging to them.
What can be done to eliminate the stigma and discrimination?
Removing a deep-rooted dogma within society is not a cakewalk. Various strategies need to be adopted in order to contribute towards changing the existing discrimination and stigma gradually. Some of the methods that can be adopted include:
Spreading awareness with the help of mental health professionals. They must make people aware of the resources which are available to them, and let people know that asking for help is not something to be ashamed of.
Spread a word regarding the available resources. People must be made comfortable to seek help and must be aware of the fact that they are only a step from seeking help. Nowadays, various online and listening services are available for people who are unable to step out, and seek immediate assistance.
Making Mental Health services available at school and workplaces. This would make people open to seeking help, and make them aware of the importance of communication. This would also help them be open to other individuals and tend to offer help or help others seek help. This could be a huge step in eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health.
Takeaway Message
To sum up, progress in removing the deep-rooted stigma, and discrimination must be done by each individual. We should look into the processes by which public stereotypes are translated into unjust behaviour. At the same time, the concept of self-stigma must be put to an end and make sure that such stereotypes are not entertained anymore among us. One must not restrain themselves from seeking help as our mental health is similar to physical health. Seeking mental health assistance is similar to that of seeking assistance for your physical health. One should never be ashamed to seek help for themselves and help others who require assistance.
References
Stigma and Discrimination: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/s/stigma-and-discrimination
Mental Health Problems- An introduction: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/mental-health-problems-introduction/stigma-misconceptions/
Understanding the impact of stigma on people with mental illness: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1489832/
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