Mental Health: Is There a Stigma?

Today’s society views people with mental illnesses as those who must be ostracized. Society must learn to treat these people with respect and understand that although their illness isn’t immediately apparent in a physical way, it does take a toll on their daily lives.

People diagnosed with mental illnesses are undoubtedly challenged with everyday life. They are constantly struggling with symptoms and disabilities of the disease while dealing with the prejudice and misconceptions of it. As a result, people who suffer mental illnesses are robbed of opportunities available to others.

Throughout history, individuals with mental illness have been treated differently. This treatment comes from misguided views that people with these problems tend to have irregular and unpredictable behavior. This generalization has been going on since the early belief that mental illness was caused by spiritual or demonic possession.

According to Mentalhealth.wa.gov.au, a 2006 Australian study found that nearly 1 in 4 people felt depression was a sign of personal weakness and would not employ a person with depression. The same study showed that nearly 2 in 3 people thought people with schizophrenia were unpredictable and a quarter thought they were dangerous. The study showed that people with depression would have a lower chance of being hired than someone without it.

When Sandwich High School nurse, Kathy Grant, was asked if there is a stigma attached to mental illness she stated, “It has gotten better, but, unfortunately, there is still some attached. I can only hope it stops.” Grant elaborated, “Today more people are asking for help with their illness, and that’s good. We as people should support them because that’s what they need.”

SHS student Angela Lorino says that people who deal with mental illnesses should be treated better. “People who don’t have mental illnesses can sometimes look down at those who do, mostly because they don’t understand what mental illness is.”

“It’s a very broad term overall,” she continued. “It depends on each person but a lot of times it involves some ailment that will hold life back.”

People all have a responsibility to challenge the stigma and to create an environment that supports the social inclusion of individuals with these illnesses. It is necessary to eliminate the myths associated with them and provide the facts.