Mental Health Misconceptions

Many people diagnosed with mental illness are undoubtedly faced with great challenges. Aside from the symptoms and disabilities that come from their illness, they are faced with misconceptions and prejudice about their disorder. These misconceptions are labeled as stigma. A study conducted by the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health (2010) observed that people with mental health problems are “frequently the object of ridicule or derision and are depicted within the media as being violent, impulsive and incompetent”. People who stigmatize psychological abnormalities believe mental illness as a sign of weakness or other negative conditions. These negative thoughts against mental illnesses may be expressed directly, such as making a negative comment towards someone with a mental disability, or more subtly, like denying someone of a job or being violent towards them because of their illness. Stigmas may be formed through dramatized media portrayals, cultural misconceptions, negative personal experiences, or stereotypes.
SOCIAL STIGMA

Corrigan, Benjamin G. Druss, and Deborah A. Perlick discuss the role of stigma in limiting access to care and in discouraging people from pursuing mental health treatment. In 2011, only 59.6% of people diagnosed with a mental illness reported actually receiving treatment. From the public standpoint, stereotypes depict people with mental disorders as dangerous, incompetent, and at fault for their disease. Such thoughts can lead to active discrimination. These acts of discrimination may become internalized, becoming self-stigma. People with mental illness may begin to trust the negative thoughts being expressed by others