Top 5 ways you can deal with stigma

Last Updated: 30-03-2023

Written by :

Ms.Zahabiya Bambora

Counselling Psychologist

M.Sc. Psychology - Swansea University, UK.

Reviewed By:

Ms.Shiya Sagar

Counselling Psychologist MA Psychology Pennsylvania State University, USA

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Most people with mental health issues are affected by stigma. People who have mental health problems, be it depression, schizophrenia, or any other disorders, are not weird or crazy. The brain of these people works differently from those who have healthy mental health. 10% of children and young people( aged 15-16 years) have a clinically diagnosable mental problem. It is estimated that 1 in 6 people in the past week experienced a common mental health problem(Mental Health Organisation, UK, 2020). Most people have acknowledged that they are fearful of mental health due to a lack of understanding and stigma. Mental illness has long been stigmatized in communities around the world. The views concerning the etiology of mental illness ranged from being considered a devil's sign to being considered divine punishment.

Stigma has a huge effect on people with mental illness and their families. There is a stigma that makes important things meaningless, invalidating, and painful. It can lead to remorse and loneliness. Stigma may also be mocked or even abused. People with mental disabilities face discrimination in their search for jobs and even in their homes. Stigma also prevents people from seeking help or obtaining treatment, making it more severe and difficult to treat their symptoms.

Here are some ways you can deal with stigma:

Talk openly about Mental Health: - One of the best ways to fight Mental Health Stigma is simply talking about it because when we talk, we learn.

Educate yourself and others: - People might attach a stigma to mental illness because they are not educated enough. One can always educate people by sharing experiences.

Show Compassion: - The simple act of showing affection can make someone’s day and they will feel that someone understands.

Be honest about treatment: - We can fight stigma by simply admitting that even we are seeing a therapist.

You are not your illness. Do not define yourself by your illness as other people might. Instead of saying ‘I m schizophrenic’, say ‘I have schizophrenia’. There is power in language.

Learn to accept your condition and recognize what you need to do to treat it, and helping educate others can make a big difference. Joining a mental health support group – either online or in-person – can help you deal with feelings of isolation and make you realize that you are not alone in your feelings and experiences.

Reference

Mental health stigma.https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/servicesandsupport/stigma- discrimination-and-mental-illness

Mental health problems. http://www.drjuliehanks.com/wp-content

Stigma and discrimination. https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/s/stigma-and-discrimination

Stigma and discrimination. (2020, February 10). Retrieved September 26, 2020, from https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/s/stigma-and-discrimination