Question

What is the role that stigma plays (or does not play) for individuals diagnosed with a mental disorder? What harmful effects of stigma for individuals that have mental illness and potential strategies for coping with that stigma?

Answer 1

• Stigma can pervade the lives of people with mental health problems in many different ways. It diminishes self-esteem and robs people of social opportunities. This can include being denied opportunities such as employment or accommodation because of their illness.

• Stigma in the form of social distancing has been observed when people are unwilling to associate with a person with mental illness. This might include not allowing the person to provide childcare etc.

• Self-discrimination also happens in which people with mental health problems turn the stereotypes about mental illness adopted by the public, towards themselves. They assume they will be rejected socially and so believe they are not valued. They isolate themselves from others.

• Many people with mental health problems experienced discrimination when applying for jobs. This included trying to explain gaps in their resume due to episodes of mental ill health. They not only experienced stigma when applying for jobs, but also found that when returning to work colleagues treated them differently.

• Strategies to cope with stigma-Create and Maintain Trust- Reducing perceived risk shoulddecrease stigma, but altering risk perception is not easy. One key link to perception is through trust. If trust in experts, managers, and policy makers increases, perceived risk will decrease and so will stigma.

• Another strategy could focus on altering the number and content of stigma producing messages reaching the public by educating the media and the regulatory community about possible message effects.

• Know the facts.-Educate yourself about mental health problems. Learn the facts instead of the myths.

• Be aware of your attitudes and behaviour-People should stop being judgmental and stereotyping others with mental illness.

• Educate others-Find opportunities to pass on facts and positive attitudes about people with mental health problems. If your friends, family, co-workers or even the media present information that is not true, challenge their myths and stereotypes.

• Support people-Treat people who have mental health problems with dignity and respect.

• Help people with mental health issue focus on the positive and try to lead their lives as normally as they can. Build confidence in them and motivate them so that they stop focusing on the negatives and not isolate themselves from others.