SAY ‘NO’ TO STIGMA OF
MENTAL DISORDERS.
Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions —
disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental
illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and eating disorders
among others.
Stigma is a mark of disgrace
that sets a person apart. When a people are labeled by their illness, they are
seen as part of a stereotyped
group. Negative attitudes create prejudice
which leads to negative actions and discrimination.
Three out of four people with a mental illness report that they have
experienced stigma.
The
following are feelings and experiences brought by stigma.
- Self blame.
- Hopelessness.
- Stress.
- Misrepresentation in the media.
- Reluctance to seek and/or accept necessary help.
Families are also affected by
stigma, leading to lack of support. For mental health professionals, stigma
means that they themselves are seen as abnormal, corrupt or evil, and
psychiatric treatments are often viewed with suspicion and horror.
Myths and misconceptions for people
with mental illnesses leading to stigmatization.
1.
Mental illness is as a result of
curse.
2.
People with mental illness are irresponsible.
3.
Mentally ill people are unreliable.
4.
They are unpredictable.
5.
Mental illness is as a result of
punishment from God.
Ways to challenge stigma
We all have a role in creating a
mentally healthy community that supports recovery and social inclusion and
reduces discrimination. Simple ways to help include;
- Learn and share the facts about mental health and illness.
- Get to know people with personal experiences of mental illness.
- Speak up in protest when friends, family, colleagues or the media display false beliefs and negative stereotypes.
- Offer the same support to people when they are physically or mentally unwell.
- Don't label or judge people with a mental illness, treat them with respect and dignity.
- Don’t discriminate when it comes to participation, housing and employment.
- Talk openly of your own experience of mental illness. The more hidden mental illness remains, the more people continue to believe that it is shameful and needs to be concealed.
