Have you ever heard someone say: "I don't need any psychological therapy, I'm fine, who said I'm crazy?
This is but one example of the many stigmas that exist about mental health. Stigmas create guilt in people about things that are not under their control, such as mental health disorders.
What are mental health disorders?
They are affectations in the mood, thinking, feelings and behavior of people. They can last for short or long periods of time, reappear or disappear. Among these disorders we find anxiety disorders (including obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, phobias), depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, mood or personality disorders, among others.
For those who struggle with their mental health, it is very difficult to deal with the negativity and judgments that are generated around them in their social and family environment, which often prevents them from seeking help and treatment.
It is true that in recent years much progress has been made in terms of raising awareness about mental health. However, many stigmas related to mental illnesses persist because of how they were conceived in the past, so there are still very harmful beliefs that "those who do not have good mental health" are "different" people.
The first action needed to eradicate the stigmas associated with this phenomenon is to identify them.
How do we learn to identify mental health stigma?
Let's read the following:
The stigma around mental illness is supported by three dimensions:
Emotional (prejudices)
Cognitive (stereotypes)
Behavioral (discrimination)
What are prejudices?
All those emotional predispositions, opinions, judgments or thoughts, almost always negative and irrational, that are experienced about stereotyped groups. Prejudice implies classifying someone without knowing them, having a preconceived idea, often unfair, and acting accordingly. For example, thinking that an adolescent cannot be responsible or capable of committing to any activity because "young people today don't care about anything".
Prejudices are established on the basis of stereotypes.
What are stereotypes?
A stereotype is any belief about a certain group, which is almost always partially or totally wrong. Example: "the man should be the one who provides economically in his home", or "women were born to dedicate themselves to the children, the husband and the kitchen" or "men do not cry and should not be expressive".
Stereotypes and prejudices almost always lead to discrimination.
What is discrimination?
The tendency to behave negatively or positively towards a certain group, narrowing or widening the desired social distance. Discrimination is also understood as having a different treatment towards a person or group for reasons of religion, race, gender, differences in physique, sexual orientation, age, mental condition, language, etc. This treatment is almost always "disadvantageous". It may be manifested, for example, by teasing against students with some notable physical characteristic such as fatness, lameness, etc.) Similarly, there may be discrimination against an employee if there is a "speak only English" rule in the workplace, but the employee's native language is another language. They may also be discriminated against if they are treated worse than other employees because they speak English with an accent, or if they are told that they are not suitable for a job because their English is not good enough.
But, going back to stigmas, let's delve a little deeper into these.
People with mental health disorders deal and interact daily with institutions or people, so they often face obstacles and social barriers once prejudices or discriminatory behaviors towards them appear. Therefore, stigma or self-stigma becomes a phenomenon that problematizes the full social inclusion of these people.
What does it mean to internalize a stigma?
It implies that the individual who is stigmatized for his or her mental health condition, and who has received negative attitudes towards him or herself, is filled with guilt, shame and fear of being discriminated against as a result of the labels, prejudices and stereotypes that exist socially towards his or her condition. For this reason, he devalues himself, diminishes his self-esteem, etc., often leading to the aggravation of his symptoms.
There are several types of stigmas, including the following:
Family stigma is related to the fact that the family experiences a certain social devaluation because it is linked to the stigmatized person. This has a negative impact on the family, and is manifested, for example, by sleep disorders, changes in interpersonal ties, social isolation, decreased quality of life and general wellbeing, leading to a kind of social exclusion, similar to what happens with the patient.
Institutional stigma is related to norms and policies that govern both private and public sector institutions. Research reveals that even when health professionals have a positive attitude towards mental illness compared to the general social attitude, there are attitudes of paternalism or negativity, especially in relation to prognosis and conjecture about the poor chances of recovery for those with mental disorders.
Public stigma exists when behaviors based on negative stereotypes and prejudices towards people with these types of disorders arise in the community. As a result, discrimination occurs.
Does stigma affect mental health?
Clearly it does! Keep in mind that mental disorders are treated differently than physical health-related problems. Mental illness can be caused by a variety of factors such as life experiences, genetics and physical damage. If people with these conditions are blamed and stigmatized, they will undoubtedly suffer more and feel more isolated and fearful of the social environment around them.
What contributes to mental health stigma?
Mostly the lack of information and education about it. Many people are afraid of others with mental health disorders, believing them to be violent or dangerous, not knowing that they may be more likely to be victims of an attack or to hurt themselves rather than others. In addition, they face the risk that, because of stigmas, they may not easily find job opportunities, housing or find it difficult to maintain social ties.
What to do?
Stigma can be identified, and we can know if our behavior is based on stereotypes or prejudices, or if it is discriminatory. We can change the way we perceive mental health, both our own and that of others. Some options for this are as follows:
1. Talk explicitly about mental health: it is healthy and advisable to establish conversations about the topic to help normalize it so that we can feel more comfortable with ourselves and also with respect to other people. Keep in mind that, for example, many celebrities have talked about their battles with their mental health, and they are ordinary people just like everyone else. That you are able to recognize a need is more of a strength, and it is totally necessary that you seek help.
2. Get treatment: if you have a mental health issue, you need to let go of the fear of labels and that this makes it impossible for you to get help. If you don't feel ready to talk to someone about it, consider arranging a free meeting with a specialist, that will help you examine all your options and you may find that you are comfortable talking about it and it could be very helpful.
3.Support others: not criticize them: would you make fun of a person suffering from cancer or any other physical illness? Have the same respect for those who suffer from a mental disorder. If someone expresses a problem related to their mental health, support them and encourage them to seek help.
4.Intercede: When you hear someone making derogatory and negative comments about mental health, intercede, speak up, respond, argue. This could include you denouncing stereotypes, prejudice or discrimination against a person suffering from mental disorders. You could write to a representative of a certain entity, if applicable to the situation, or point out to a friend when you hear him or her make harmful references.
5.Know the situations: it is important to educate those around you so that you can teach them and promote knowledge and awareness of others based on concrete and current information.
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