1. Stigma related to mental illness
Added on March 04, 2013
is attaching negative qualities to mental disorders (for example, thinking
people with a mental disorder are dangerous). Stigma is a strong force
and is harmful in that it may keep people from speaking about their
disorder, getting help, or receiving treatment. It can create a false image
of what mental disorders are and may force people to limit their social
interactions, work, education, or to not seek help if they have a mental
disorder.
Common misperceptions that contribute to the stigma of mental illness:
That people with mental illness are dangerous. For example, in the
media and movies people with mental illness are often portrayed as
being violent and dangerous. This is despite the fact that 80 to 90
per cent of people with mental illness never commit violent crimes.
That all people who experience mental illness fit into one
stereotype and are the same.
That people who experience mental illness are unfit to work.
Stigma can:
Make a person feel socially alienated. This means that people who
live with mental illness may find it harder to marry, to have
children, to maintain employment and have a social life. People
may lose contact with family, friends and social groups as a
consequence.
Make a person feel discouraged when it comes to seeking help.
People may not understand their symptoms and be hesitant to seek
treatment, often because of the negative attitudes that they have
experienced towards mental health issues.
Be in the form of public stigma and self-stigma. Public stigma is the
reaction that the general public has to people with mental illness.
Self-stigma is the negative view that people who live with mental
illness have of themselves because of their mental illness. This
happens when a person is fearful of discrimination as a result of
mental illness, and may make a person hide their illness as a way to
influence the impression they make on other people. Some negative
emotions which people may feel towards themselves are harmful to
self esteem and confidence, and include shame, embarrassment,
alienation and fear.
Affect friends and family of those who experience mental illness.

2. Lead to discrimination in the workplace and community, and also
impact on securing safe and suitable accommodation.
Hinder recovery.
Stigma is reinforced by:
The media
Public attitudes and stereotypes
The community by the use of discriminatory terms such as "psycho",
"schizo", "nut" and "crazy".
activity:
Our youth advisory council wanted to help educated other young people
by challenging them to think about mental illness differently. One of the
things they did was create this video, that they wanted to share with
anyone that could help make a difference in fighting stigma.