Living With the Stigma of Mental Illness Essay examples

Life with a serious mental disorder such as schizophrenia and others, usually never falls within the boundaries of what could be considered ‘easy.’ Long treatment regiments, intense medications and sometimes debilitating symptoms are just a few headlines in the laundry list of hardships that befall those diagnosed with a serious mental disorder. Even with all this, they then must face society and its uncanny ability to stigmatize and isolate these people. While certainly not anything new to this group of individuals, stigma has shifted and changed shape to conform to the current standards of society, and what is ‘normal.’ Is the distancing of mainstream society away from the mentally ill due to ignorance on their (society’s) part or†¦show more content†¦But what could attribute to this stigma? Approximately seventy-five percent of the population views people with a mental illness as dangerous (Corrigan et. al—2). Such a high percentage indicates that the majority of the population holds a negative connotation both about the prospect of mental illness, and towards the individuals who were unfortunate enough to contract the illness. A reasonable person would object to this, claiming that those people were making uneducated assumptions of the mentally ill population, which an informed person would be able to make the clear distinction between a dangerous individual and one who is not. A 2004 study performed by P.Corrigan, A. Watson, A.Warpinsku and G.Garcia, collected data from 161 people from a community college who were randomly assigned to one of three conditions concerning the education of mental illness; education about violence, education about stigma and a control where either mental illness or physical disability issues were taught or discussed. The results of this study found that those who were in the group â€Å"concerning education about violence were more consistent in their demonstration of negative a ttitudes towards people with mental illness† (Corrigan et al—2). This directly challenges the practices by some community groups that insist that education of people about mental illness should focus on the dangers of not getting treatment, which often includes depicting a violent picture ofShow MoreRelatedMental Health And The Media982 Words   |  4 PagesMental Health and the Media Mental illness in general carries an enormous stigma. People have respect for and take seriously physical ailments but when it comes to mental illness there is still immense discrimination. The stigma that comes from having a mental disorder such as, bi-polar depression, schizophrenia, or panic disorder comes with an enormous societal cost and can cause people not to talk about it. They may feel ashamed, embarrassed or fear stigma. Not seeking treatment causes people livingRead MoreThe Stigma of Mental Illness1656 Words   |  7 Pagesdiagnosis might exacerbate the stigma of mental illness. In Corrigan’s study clinical diagnosis adds groupness for the collection of people with mental illness which worsens the level of prejudice (Corrigan 34). Corrigan states that this ultimately leads to overgeneralization, as there is an assumption that all individuals diagnosed with the same mental disorders behave the same way (Corrigan 34). According to Corrigan the stereotypic descriptio n of mental illness perceives to the public that, peopleRead MoreThe Stigma Of Children With Mental Illness1608 Words   |  7 Pagesassociation with mental illness. This stigma creates a negative feedback loop in how society views people with psychiatric disabilities. Media portrays people with mental illness as scary, bad, dangerous, unpredictable, and un-educated. These views cause people to shy away and fear the mentally ill. This stigma also affects a person’s willingness to seek help when they are experiencing a mental illness. Some cultures, such as Hispanic Catholics, may not recognize mental illness as a health problemRead MoreThe Stigma Of Mental Health Care Essay1711 Words   |  7 PagesMental health issues have been an ongoing hot topic in this country for over a century. Though many strides have been made to increase awareness and lessen the stigma, there continues to be a barrier to mental health care, especially for our nations’ youth and young a dults. I will be discussing the history behind mental health care, current policies regarding it, how the presence of stigma reduces the likelihood that youth and young adults are receiving the adequate mental health care they requireRead MoreThe Stigma Associated With Bipolar Disorder1448 Words   |  6 PagesLiving with Bipolar Disorder The stigma associated with bipolar disorder is unacceptable. The purpose of this paper is to improve the readers ability to understand what bipolar disorder is and how being diagnosed with this disorder affects all facets of daily living. Family, friends and associates of individuals with bipolar disorder are often affected as well. As a result of the stigma associated with the disorder, the effects remain: often multiplied by individuals that have a limited understandingRead MoreEffects On Psychological Health When Labelled With Chronic Illness1022 Words   |  5 PagesImpact on psychological health when labelled with chronic illness eg. stigma So my topic was how psychological health was affected when someone was labelled with a chronic illness. More specifically stigma associated with chronic illness and how it could impact Ivan due to his conditions. When someone is suffering or living with a chronic illness it can have a huge impact on them psychologically and socially. Chronic Illness is a condition that is prolonged in duration, usually more than 3 monthsRead MoreWhen An Individual Has Lung Cancer, There Is An Immediate1411 Words   |  6 Pagestrauma she endured as a result of living in a dysfunctional home. How difficult it was to seek treatment, all the time being judged unfairly, supports withdrawing when they were needed the most, and friendships torn apart. All of this is a perfect example of stigma. Individuals who suffer from a mental illness are often stigmatized by prejudice and discriminatory views or actions, through the stereotypical portrayals and mass media characterization of people with mental disorders. First, one must understandRead MoreThe Effects Of Poverty On The Development Of Emotional Problems Essay1206 Words   |  5 PagesThe correlation between poverty and mental illness has been shown through numerous studies dating back to the 1930s, but the nature of the relationship is complex and not fully understood (Kuruvill, et. al., 2007). The mentally ill are at an increased risk of becoming and staying poor; conversely, the impoverished are at a greater risk of becoming mentally ill. In fact, the poor are twice as likely to have a common mental disorder (WHO, n.d.). This paper will consider the effects of poverty on theRead MoreMorgan Hobbs. Mr. Bertelsen. English Iii. 22 February 2017.817 Words   |  4 PagesHobbs Mr. Bertelsen English III 22 February 2017 Stigma of Mental Illnesses â€Å"Come find me when you decide to not have a broken arm.† â€Å"You don’t look like you have a terminal disease. You’re just saying that to get attention.† â€Å"Can’t you just try to not get sick?† Nobody would actually say these horrible things to someone with a physical disease, and yet we find it okay to say it to someone with a mental disease. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) everyRead MoreThe Media s Influence On Public Perception Essay1272 Words   |  6 Pagesbeliefs stem from the media and how Hollywood portrays fictional characters with mental illnesses. At which point there seems to be a common misunderstanding towards individuals suffering from a mental illness. When it comes to people suffering with mental health, doctors, schools, and everything in between seem to have either a positive or negative outlook on the subject. The stereotypes and misinformation of mental illnes ses can lead to a delay in seeking medical help. The media’s influence on public