Did you know that one in five people worldwide will have a mental or neurological disorder at some time? This virtually guarantees that every single person will be impacted by mental illness, either in his own life or in that of a family member or friend. So, no one can say, “Mental illness doesn’t affect me. And no one can risk stereotyping people who have the illness; it will, sooner or later, strike very close to home.
And did you know that nearly two-thirds of people who have a mental illness never seek professional help for it? The negativity, fears, and stereotypes that prevail about mental illness are one of the largest barriers to people seeking help.
One definition of stigma is “a mark of social disgrace.” Our own fears and distrust lead us to think about people with mental illness differently than we would if they didn’t have a mental illness. Examples stigma against mental illness can take include:
Stereotyping: for example, assuming that people with severe mental illness can never hold a job or have a family.
Discrimination: for example, not considering persons with mental illness for volunteer positions, renting a home, or employment, because we know they have, or have had, a mental illness.
Stereotyping: for example, assuming that people with severe mental illness can never hold a job or have a family.
Discrimination: for example, not considering persons with mental illness for volunteer positions, renting a home, or employment, because we know they have, or have had, a mental illness.
Fearfulness: leads us to purposefully avoiding them.
Language: making fun of people with mental illness or perpetuating stereotypes makes it harder to eliminate stigma. “Crazy” “cuckoo” off her rocker” “loose screw” “out of his head” “losing it” – the list of our insulting words and phrases is endless. As is our insulting body language – smirking, twirling our fingers close to our heads, rolling our eyes, making faces, intentional twitching …
Language: making fun of people with mental illness or perpetuating stereotypes makes it harder to eliminate stigma. “Crazy” “cuckoo” off her rocker” “loose screw” “out of his head” “losing it” – the list of our insulting words and phrases is endless. As is our insulting body language – smirking, twirling our fingers close to our heads, rolling our eyes, making faces, intentional twitching …
Eliminating stereotypes and stigma of mental illness is a huge goal. We can each do our part and gradually change will happen. Three things things you could do are:
Learn: When we’re ignorant of the facts, we’re more likely to rely on a stereotype or false belief. Information about mental illness is all over the web or in books. Knowing some basic facts, such as that most people with mental illness recover well, can help reduce stigma.
Watch Your Mouth: Change your language. Start using language that focuses on the people, not the illness, saying “people with mental illness” rather than “the mentally ill.” Eliminating derogatory terms like “psycho” and those listed above.
Listen: If you know a person with mental illness, listen to his or her story and experience. You don’t need professional treatment knowledge to listen. Just offer the same respect and listening skills you would offer any other friend.
Learn: When we’re ignorant of the facts, we’re more likely to rely on a stereotype or false belief. Information about mental illness is all over the web or in books. Knowing some basic facts, such as that most people with mental illness recover well, can help reduce stigma.
Watch Your Mouth: Change your language. Start using language that focuses on the people, not the illness, saying “people with mental illness” rather than “the mentally ill.” Eliminating derogatory terms like “psycho” and those listed above.
Listen: If you know a person with mental illness, listen to his or her story and experience. You don’t need professional treatment knowledge to listen. Just offer the same respect and listening skills you would offer any other friend.
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