Stigma
False beliefs that what someone is going through is not real
examples of mental illness stigma
- It comes from the devil
- caused by trauma or illness
- brain damage
- “Its all in your head”
- genetic disorder
What it really is
- being unable to cope
- seeing the world differently than others
- not being able to function related to crippling anxiety
- could be a chemical imbalance of the brain
- obsessive thoughts that are intrusive
Treatment
Then Vs NOW
Then:
- blood letting- releasing of blood from the body to get rid of the ” infection”
- tranquilizers
- locking the “crazy people” in asylums together
NOW:
- Medications
- therapy
- group therapy
Stigma causes those who suffer from mental illness to not seek treatment due to the fact they do not want to be made fun of for having “issues”.
What can you do?
- be supportive, help those who need it
- listen
- watch for the warning signs
- reach out to those in need
references
Biswas-Dierner, R., & Dierer, E. (2019). Chapter 13 History of mental Illness . In Noba Textbook Series: Psychology (pp. 244–256). essay, Diener Education Fund.
Cripps, L., & Deyell Hood, C. (2020). Recovery and mental health: Exploring the basic characteristics of living well with mental illness. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 54(2). https://doi.org/10.18666/trj-2020-v54-i2-9948
da Silva, A. G., Baldaçara, L., Cavalcante, D. A., Fasanella, N. A., & Palha, A. P. (2020). The impact of mental illness stigma on psychiatric emergencies. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00573
DuPont-Reyes, M. J., Villatoro, A. P., Phelan, J. C., Painter, K., & Link, B. G. (2020). Adolescent views of mental illness stigma: An intersectional lens. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 90(2), 201–211. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000425
I really enjoyed reading this blog post! Stigmas associated with various mental illnesses are not only misleading but can be hurtful to those involved. While we have made great strides over the years, there is always room for improvement. I found that the treatments used years ago, such as the blood letting, was not only scary but heart breaking. To think at one time it was widely believed that this would be beneficial for “curing” mental illness. As you mentioned, providing a listening ear and offering emotional support can go a long way with those struggling with their mental health.