Social Stigma And Mental Illness Essay

Stigma on Mental Illnesses Stigma relates to mental illness in a discrimination form. People with mental illness is prejudge before they receive the chance to express themselves. “Social stigma is characterized by prejudicial attitudes and discriminating behaviour directed towards individuals with mental health problems as a result of the psychiatric label they have been given” (Link, Cullen, Struening & Shrout, 1989). In relation to social stigma, studies have suggested that stigmatising attitudes towards people with mental health problems are widespread and commonly held (Crisp, Gelder, Rix, Meltzer et al., 2000; Bryne, 1997; Heginbotham, 1998). “In a survey of over 1700 adults in the UK, Crisp et al. (2000) found that the most commonly held belief was that people with mental health problems were dangerous especially those with schizophrenia, alcoholism and drug dependence, people believed that

“Social cognitive models of stigma define the relationship among: signals that suggest a person is mentally ill, stigmatizing attitudes about the person with mental illness, affective reactions to the stigmatizing attitude, and behavior responses to these attitudes and emotions”( Corrigan). Those who consider themselves to be normal are harsh to those with mental illness. They tend to stare and make fun of these people. “Maladaptive attitudes lead people repeatedly to view themselves, their world, and their future in negative ways, the so call cognitive triad” (Comer, 257.) Stigma forces this group of individuals to go into hiding and never seek help. They become embarrassed and feel guilty that cause shame. Embarrassment triggers the emotional gland which can cause thoughts of suicide or harming others. Consumers with mental illness disabilities are the ones that are always smiling and barely know when someone is staring. They continue living their life and do not worry about how they are thought