Stigma And Discrimination

Mental health illness does not discriminate however many people still stigmatise and discriminate those who are affected by it. Mental illness is not a sign of weakness, it is not something to be ashamed of, nor does it only target specific groups of people. It effects people of all ages, educational and income levels and cultures. Lets have a look at what stigma is, how it can effect us and how we can cope with it.

What is mental illness stigma? Mental illness stigma is when people hold negative judgemental beliefs against people who live with a mental health illness. They are often stereotyped into groups and defined by their mental health diagnosis. Many people stigmatise others because of preconditioned ideas and by certain . ignorant media hype. Stigma often leads to discrimination and can isolate many people

How can stigma effect us? Stigma can drastically effect and distort one's views, there is substantial evidence to support the findings that stigma associated with mental illness is still a massive barrier to mental health care worldwide. Many people do not seek help or are unable to access services. People who live with a mental illness may turn stigma in on themselves and end up self stigmatising. This can trigger a relapse and feeling's of helplessness and hopelessness and one can find it difficult to see beyond their diagnosis. If a person does not receive treatment or care they are at high risk of self harm and suicide.

How can we cope with stigma? It is very important to understand how stigma can effect ourselves, loved ones, friends and colleagues. Having self awareness about how stigma can effects us can empower us to challenge it and not let it effect us in a negative way. The Mayo Clinic has written a fantastic article about how to overcome stigma, to read this article click here.

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