Time to Stop Mental Illness Stigma
Monday, December 5, 2016
Friday, December 2, 2016
Stop Mental Health Stigma Now
Mental illness
knows no race, gender, or sexual orientation. Anyone can suffer from it but,
there is an overwhelming stigma that has been placed upon it. The fear that has
circulated around this topic needs to be stopped. We as a society are afraid of
the unknown, and if we do not understand something it can make us feel uneasy,
uncomfortable, or even scared. The way the media has portrayed people who
suffer from these illnesses as being unpredictable and has made the victims of
mental illness more likely face discrimination at some point in their lives.
The people who suffer from mental illnesses need to get some sort of help but
they may be afraid to get it because of the labels that society can put upon
them. They don't want to be depicted as psychotic or unstable; they want to
feel accepted for who they are. But unfortunately, they will try and hide the
fact that they could be suffering. They might not want it to get out they are
seeking help because they do not want to seem mentally weak or unstable. That’s
why it is very important these people get the adequate care they need, so if
you know someone and see the signs of a mental illness do not be afraid to
speak out. We need to come together to help diminish these stigmas. You
speaking out against These stigmas can really make a change in someone’s life.
It can show them hope to keep pushing on and know that life is a wonderful
experience. These illnesses are not
something that should be taken lightly. In fact, if something is not done the
illnesses can take control of someone’s life and could make it even harder to
recover.
While I was
researching this topic I kept asking why the people suffering from mental
health issues were categorize as being violent and unpredictable. Stephen Lawrie, head of Psychiatry at
the University of Edinburgh, gives a reason for this stigma of mental health,
and that reason is fear. As humans, we are not very fond of the unknown or when
something is unpredictable. It’s just part of our nature to figure out exactly
what it is and when we do not understand something it makes us feel
uncomfortable (Lawrie 2015). A group that capitalizes on that fear is the
media. In the world of the media today quantity is valued over quality because
people expect quick results, which news outlets pride themselves on getting the
information out first. If you were in a room with a family member or friend who
happens to suffer from a mental illness, and you see these stigmas being placed
on them, speak out. Reassure them that it is just a way the media grabs
attentions of viewers. Let them know that’s just a small percentage of people
and they are certainly like that.
Media tends to use mental illness as a
crutch when it comes to figuring out why a person has committed a violent act
of crime. According to Michael Ketteringham M.D., M.P.H., “People who commit a violent crime are
frequently labeled “psychos,” “maniacs,”
or “schizophrenics” by
headline writers and newscasters, inaccurately linking violence and mental
illness in the public mind” (Levin 2011). Because of the medias negative
portrayal of those with a mental illness studies have shown that “61 percent of
Americans believe that people with schizophrenia are violent toward others, and
50 percent describe them as unpredictable” (Levin 2011). Since a mental illness
has been brought up with common words such as “psycho” and “maniac”, it can
bleed over into other mental illnesses as well. Thus making the general social
perception of mental illness fall under this category.
If you
happen to be facing discrimination in the workplace know there are laws in
place to protect you from this harassment. Also, if you are witnessing this
harassment you can speak out against the behavior. Let it be known that you
will not stand for harassment and stigmatism. Stopping the problem at its
source is a great way to diminish these actions. The American Disabilities Act
and The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are set in
place so you can feel safer at work (NAMI Work). If you happen to be someone
with a family member who suffers from mental health issues there is a law that
is set in place in order to help you with taking care of your loved one. The
Family Medical Leave Act will allow you to take twelve weeks off of work to
take care of any family member that needs your help (NAMI Work). Although these
weeks off are unpaid it is still a great law set in place.
Now, the
majority of people who suffer from a mental illness are not those who are
admitted into a psychiatric ward. They can be everyday people like you and me
who lead a productive life in society. These people could be coworkers,
friends, or even family members. So, if you knew someone who was suffering
would you not feel obligated to help? Catching the signs early could be the
difference of a full speedy recovery or someone’s life being consumed by an
awful illness. But, what are the signs? Normally, you can catch on these signs
pretty quickly if you are close with the person. These signs can be dramatic
change in sleep and eating patterns, feelings of anger, social withdraw (NHA).
If you happen to catch these signs, then speak out. Make it known that you care
about the other persons wellbeing. Talk to them and let them know they are not
alone, and they have many people who are willing to help them get better. Also,
tell the person that it is okay to speak about their mental health. If we can
normalize these issues, then maybe the stigmatism can go away.
Self-diagnoses
can be a problem when talking about mental health issues as well. Some people
feel if they can find out what is wrong with them on the internet. Then they
will be able to decide what is best for them, but that is not the case. When
searching for a diagnosis over the internet many over exaggerated answers can
pop up for just a simple system. For
example, say you have a splitting headache. While searching for this symptoms
online you are likely to come across brain tumor as a result of the search (Foundations).
People who take these diagnoses seriously would begin to panic. If you would
happen to see those results that would be a perfectly normal reaction. If you
were to believe them hopefully you would go out and seek medical attention. The
same principles should apply when we are talking about a mental health issue. If
you feel like you suffer from a mental illness and you look up the symptoms,
you need to get the proper care you need. Instead of living in the fear
thinking you might have the problem, you need to seek professional help.
There is
one brief topic that needs to be brought up when talking about self-diagnosis
is claiming you have the illness when in fact you really do not. These are not
problems are not here for you to grasp attention for yourself. You should not
down play these mental health issues. These illnesses can take over people’s
lives and hurt families, and that is not something you should joke about. It
also helps to add on to the stigmatization of the mentally ill. Associating
words like crazy, unstable, or unpredictable to these illnesses will contribute
to the stigmatism. If you truly believed you had a mental illness the smartest
thing to do would be going out and seeking medical attention. The people who
suffer from these illnesses do not want to have them, so why would you?
Unfortunately,
since people are not willing to speak out until the situation has become far
worse, suicide is very prominent problem among people who suffer from a
mental health issues. It is said that ninety percent of all suicides can be
linked to someone who suffers from a mental health issue (NAMI Suicide). This
is another reason why speaking out and noticing the signs are important to the
health of the afflicted. Signs for suicide are very similar to the ones that
were previously stated. If the person is suffering from depression like symptoms,
they could also be vocal about it. Statements like talking about how they are a
terrible person, saying the world would be better off without them, or saying they
have nothing to live for should raise a red flag. Be there to reassure the
person that their life is full of meaning, but most importantly get them to
agree to seek professional help, it could be the matter of life or death.
Substance
abuse is a problem amongst this community. Since, people suffering from these
illnesses do not want to hurting the way they are. They will try to outsource
to other options to stimulate themselves. According to the National Institute
on Drug Abuse, “people
who suffer from a severe mental illness are 4 times more likely to be heavy
alcohol users (four or more drinks per day); 3.5 times more likely to use
marijuana regularly (21 times per year); and 4.6 times more likely to use other
drugs at least 10 times in their lives” (NIDA 2014). If the person you love are
showing these characteristic and are starting to develop terrible addictions.
Know there are numbers and rehabilitation programs that you can contact to help
make the person you care about better again. You do not have to fight these
battles alone, and there are many people willing to help. If the problem would
happen to resort to it an intervention the next best thing to do would be to
contact a professional to help guide you and your family through the process.
As a
community, I think it is very important that we come together to help the
people in need. Unity is one thing we as humans strive for, and strength in
numbers will help our cause hands down. You may be asking yourself what else
could you do in order to bring clarity to these stigmas? In fact, there are
many things that can bring attention to this issue. If we as a community, we
can unify to construct charity events that could help immensely. These events
could be 5k runs, golf tournaments, bake sales, or talent shows. All the
proceeds would go to organizations working to help stop mental illness and
stigma. We need to show the world we are not afraid to stand up for what is
right; as well as, letting the world know we will not live in the shadows of
mental health illness. We will come together to overcome these stigmas and let
no one stand in the way, but we cannot do that without the help of the
community.
Other than
getting rid of mental illness stigma; if there was one thing I would want you
to take from this paper is do not be afraid to stand up for what you believe
in. Do not be afraid to make a difference. If you care about something that you
think should change, make the effort to do so. This world is not perfect, and
it certainly has its issues. I truly believe if the human race can band
together to stop the stigmatization of the mentally ill, as well as all
stigmatism, the world can become a better place. These are the people we care
about most who can be suffering everyday thinking there is no end to their
misery. So, if you know a loved one who needs help do not be afraid to speak
up. The road to recovery might not be easy and it will take time, but in the
long run it will be worth it. Stand up and speak out and fight for what is
right. Let us end mental health stigmatism so we can build a better future.
Work Cited
Foundations
Recovery Network. Issues and Dangers of Self-Diagnosis, Dueldiagnosis.org, www.dualdiagnosis.org/dual-diagnosis-treatment/dangers-self-diagnosis/. Accessed 27 Oct. 2016.
Lawrie,
Stephen. Mental Health CMVM Psychiatry at Work, The University of
Edinburgh College of Medicine & Veterinary
Medicine, 4 Aug. 2016, mentalhealth.mvm.ed.ac.uk/2015/08/what-causes-stigma-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/.
Accessed 26 Oct. 2016.
Levin,
Aaron. "Media Cling to Stigmatizing Portrayals of Mental Illness."
Psychiatric News, 16 Dec.
2011, vol. 26 issue 24. ed. Accessed 28 Oct. 2016. psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/pn.46.24.psychnews_46_24_16-a
Mental
Health America. Mental Illness and the Family: Recognizing Warning Signs and
How to Cope,www.mentalhealthamerica.net/recognizing-warning-signs.
Accessed 13 Nov. 2016.
National
Alliance on Mental Illness. Risk of Suicide, https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions/Related-Conditions/Suicide.
Accessed 15 Nov. 2016.
National
Institute on Drug Abuse. Severe mental illness tied to higher rates of
substance use, 3 Jan. 2014, https://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/news-releases/2014/01/severe-mental-illness-tied-to-higher-rates-substance-use.
Accessed 16 Nov. 2016.
National
Alliance on Mental Health. Succeeding at Work https://www.nami.org/Find-Support/Living-with-a-Mental-Health-Condition/Succeeding-at-Work.
Accessed 17 Nov. 2016.
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