Stigma is when someone judges you based on a personal
trait. Unfortunately, this is a common experience for people who have a mental
health condition. Stigma may be obvious and direct, such as someone making a
negative remark about your mental illness or your treatment. Or it may be
subtle, such as someone assuming you could be unstable, violent or dangerous
because you have a mental health condition. You may even judge yourself. Some
of the harmful effects of stigma can include:
· Lack of understanding by family, friends, colleagues or
others you know
· Discrimination at work or school
· Difficulty finding housing
· Bullying, physical violence or harassment
· Health insurance that doesn’t adequately cover your
mental illness
· The belief that you will never be able to succeed at
certain challenges or that you can’t improve your situation
Steps
to cope with stigma
Here are some ways you can deal with stigma:
·
Get treatment. You may be reluctant to admit you have a
condition that needs treatment. Don’t let the fear of being “labeled” with a
mental illness prevent you from seeking help. Treatment can provide relief by
identifying what’s wrong in concrete terms and reducing symptoms that interfere
with your work and personal life.
·
Don’t let stigma create self-doubt and shame. Stigma doesn’t just
come from others. You may have the mistaken belief that your condition is a
sign of personal weakness, or that you should be able to control it without
help. Seeking psychological counseling, educating yourself about your condition
and connecting with others with mental illness can help you gain self-esteem
and overcome destructive self-judgment.
·
Don’t isolate yourself. If you have a mental illness, you may
be reluctant to tell anyone about it. Have the courage to confide in your
spouse, family members, friends, clergy or other members of your community.
Reach out to people you trust for the compassion, support and understanding you
need.
·
Don’t equate yourself with your illness. You are not an illness. So
instead of saying “I’m bipolar,” say “I have bipolar disorder.” Instead of
calling yourself “a schizophrenic,” call yourself “a person with
schizophrenia.” Don’t say you “are depressed.” Say you “have clinical
depression.”
·
Join a support group. Some local and national groups, such as the
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) offer local programs and Internet
resources that help reduce stigma by educating people with mental illness,
their family members and the general public. A number of state and federal
agencies and programs also offer support for people who have mental health
conditions. Examples include agencies such as Vocational Rehabilitation and Veterans
Affairs (VA).
·
Get help at school. If you or your child has a mental illness
that affects learning, find out what plans and programs might help.
Discrimination against students because of a mental health condition is against
the law, and educators at primary, secondary and college levels are required to
accommodate students as best they can. Talk to teachers, professors or
administrators about the best approach and available resources. If a teacher
doesn’t know about a student’s disability, it can lead to discrimination,
barriers to learning and poor grades.
·
Speak out against stigma. Express your opinions at events, in
letters to the editor or on the Internet. It can help instill courage in others
facing similar challenges and educate the public about mental illness.
Others’ judgments almost always stem from a lack of
understanding rather than information based on the facts.
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