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Implications of stigma to sufferers of mental health
Implications of stigma to sufferers of mental health
Essays on stigma of mental health
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Mental health stigma has been a prevalent issue internally and within society. Mental health stigma is caused by pessimistic beliefs and attitudes that persuades others to discriminate or avoid individuals with mental illness or psychiatric care resources (Parcesepe & Cabassa, 2013). This stigma prevents individuals from coming to the conclusion that they have a mental illness and taking part in receiving psychiatric care (Parcesepe & Cabassa, 2013). According to Amuyunzu-Nyamongo (2013), about fourteen percent of global diseases are mental illness. In fact, in low income countries seventy-five percent of accounted illnesses are categorized under mental illnesses and severe psychosis, Africa specifically (Amuyunzu-Nyamongo, 2013; Bird, Omar, …show more content…
This resilience stands as the outcome of trust barriers between the people of Africa and the mental health professional. Africans tend to confide their general health and mental issues in traditional healers. Traditional healers incorporate rituals and rites in their treatment process (Levers & Shefer, 2009). The process of traditional healing incorporates African culture, earthly products (vegetation and minerals), religion, and wild life (Levers & Shefer, 2009). The main issue when consulting with a traditional healer is that the general thought of a mental illness occurring is based on culture and religion only. Some may believe that their mental illness is occurring due to the wrath of their God, witchcraft, possessive spirits, or misuse of drugs (Amuyunzu-Nyamongo, 2013). Other cases of not recognizing their illness derives from hiding their illness in the shadow of socio norms to prevent being discriminated upon. The fact that the African community remains comfortable in their route of treatment as well as confiding in traditional healers makes it nearly impossible for certified psychiatric care professionals to provide adequate mental health …show more content…
Within lower income countries there are necessities that are not provided as they are in higher income countries. Most of these necessities include drinkable water, access to adequate medical attention, proper nutrition within vegetation, treatment for blood borne diseases, and much more. All of these basic needs are categorized in a priority hierarchy in the African community. As these are essential priorities of life, mental health stands at the bottom of their hierarchy. The fact that mental health is low in priority due to the following factors: “inappreciativeness of mental illness prevalence, misunderstanding, poor media coverage, not knowledgeable of interventions, preference of self-care/ traditional healing, lack of funding, competing health priorities, lack of advocacy, and socio-cultural beliefs” (Bird et al., 2011). Add page number In order to reduce mental health stigma, increasing mental health as a priority is key. It has been suggested by Bird et al. (2013) by improving mental health policies and pushing awareness campaigns in the media, mental illness will be accepted more. Along with general awareness Bird et al. mentioned combining mental health resources with primary care resources to increase mental health priority. That notion correlates with the main gap of lack of education within the African community on mental
The influence of a supernatural god and the spirit world influenced every aspect of the Indigenous African community including health and healing, thus a holistic approach to health and healing was essential.
Health care for mental illness is an issue in the African American community for Men, Women and Adolescents due to the underserving and lack of mental healthcare providers, the cultural stigma of having mental illness and the socioeconomic status of African Americans.
Mental illness is more common than one would like to believe. In reality, one in five Americans will suffer from a mental disorder in any given year. Though that ratio is about equivalent to more than fifty-four million people, mental illness still remains a shameful and stigmatized topic (National Institute of Mental Health, n.d.). The taboo of mental illness has an extensive and exhausting history, dating back to the beginning of American colonization. It has not been an easy road, to say the least.
People who are in different societal groups measure health in different ways. Mental health affects people in developing countries in different ways because they look at different aspects of and compare different things. People in developing countries who have money and who are able to access the medical care are looked at to be at a higher social status. Medical care in these areas cost money, a lot of people who do not have the money are not able to access the support they would need to improve their mental health. Due to mental health being a topic that is rarely talked about it is also something that a lot of people suffer from but no one talks about because they are not able to get
Poverty in mental health prevents patients from seeking out medical attention due to lack of insurance. “insurance coverage disparities make mental health care less accessible than other forms of health care” (Safran, 2011). Due to lack of insurance patients are not receiving adequate care, such as being evaluated, receiving the appropriate treatments, and not going to doctor follow up appointments to ensure proper care. Without receiving proper treatment, it can cause the patient condition to get worse and would not have a chance of a successful outcome. Also, poverty can cause additional stress and anxiety making the mental illness progress. “The stresses of living with someone who has a mental health problem may be particularly pronounced for families who live in resource poor areas where treatment options, accurate information, and social support may be limited.” (Bischoff, 2017). Lack of attention is another health disparities, due to lack of attention, there is limited funding sources to help mental health patients. Since there is a lack of funding these individuals are not getting the appropriate help that is needed. As well since mental health lacks attention and funding, there are limited mental health institutions, so people who need to be institutionalized may be required to be relocated to another city/state. We must try our best to provide all resources for our patients and
Rusch, et al. "Mental Illness Stigma: Concepts, Consequences, And Initiatives To Reduce Stigma." European Psychiatry 20-8 (2005): 529-539. Print.
Saraceno, B.; Ommeren, M.V.; Batniji, R.; Cohen, A.; Gureje, O.; Mahoney, J.; Sridhar, D.; and Underhill, C. (2007). Barriers to improvement of mental health services in low-income and middle-income countries. Global Mental Health Series 5, 370: 1164–74.
Traditional African medicines, and the spiritual healers that administer these medicines are an important part of African society. For many centuries and even millenniums these healers with there spiritual and naturalistic remedies have been responsible for taking care of the African world as we know it. Traditional African medicines have been a greater help to all of society and modern science, but still lie at the root of much controversy over its ability to be a valid healing tool. Some doctor’s and scientist believe that a possible placebo effect may be the root of what makes these remedies and rituals work; but there is also evidence that suggest that many of the ingredients found in our medicines today are also found in the natural animal and plant products used by the healers. In fact many pharmaceutical companies have recently been looking at the content of these natural substances in hope of finding chemical compounds that can help modern science in producing modern medicines to cure disease. Despite modern day societies use of the healers remedies in modern medicine, there still seems to be some confusion as to who the healer really is and what their motives are. Many people using naïve thought process perceive the healer as one practicing witchcraft. This may be due to the disbelief that natural substances are capable of healing, or the belief that ritualistic and spiritualistic ceremonies and practices stem from evil or voodoo. Despite all of this opposition and change into a more scientific world, the healer remains as one of the most sought after people in the African world, and even in large African cities were western heal...
Samarasekara, N., Davies, M. L. M., & Siribaddana, S. (2012). The stigma of mental illness in Sri Lanka: the perspectives of community mental health workers. Stigma Research and Action, 2(2). doi:10.5463/sra.v1i3.48.
In the article Issues and Controversies says, "Throughout most of human history, people with mental illness were ostracized, isolated, and persecuted." ( Infobase,1) This belief system can give causation of mental illness in different cultures and such influences in a community will always be in a negative manner. Various societies struggle with the notion of mental health. The standards of every culture believe to be considered normal, natural, or healthy. These views lead to disagreements about the causes, diagnosis, and the treatment of the disorders. Many people with mental problems are discriminated against because of their mental disorder. Mental illness and stigma refers to the view of the person with mental illness as having undesirable traits. Stigma leads to negative behavior, stereotyping, and discriminatory behavior towards the person with mental health issues. This stigma causes the affected person to experience denial or shame of their condition. Perceived stigma can result in the patient being scared to seek help. Stigma can be divided into two perspectives, public and self stigma. Upadhyay says, "Public stigma occurs when the general
Social stigma is the extreme disapproval person or group based on social characteristics. Mental illness stigma generally is a pervasive and widespread problem that has been documented throughout the United States and abroad (e.g., Angermeyer & Dietrich, 2006; Corrigan & Watson, 2002), identification of effective methods for reducing stigma among college students is especially needed and important. Although research consistently has found that factors like less personal contact and less familiarity with mental illness contribute to higher levels of stigma (Penn, Kommana, Mansfield, & Link, 1999; Penn et al., 1994; Phelan & Link, 2004). Mental Health and Stigma corresponds within Black women. Approximately
If there are 40 students in the classroom, at least two of them could be living with serious mental illness. Although mental illness is something that is familiar to us, there is still misunderstood and stigma towards mental illness. Then why do many people still have wrong knowledge and attitude toward mental illness? There are many sources of the stigma, but one of the main sources is people’s ignorance toward mental illness.
Mental disorders are rapidly becoming more common with each new generation born in the world. Currently, nearly one in two people suffer from some form of depression, anxiety, or other mental health problem at some point in their lives (Editor). With so many people suffering from their mental illnesses, steps have been taken in order to get help needed for these people but progress has been slow. In the medical world, hospitals are treating those with physical problems with more care than those with mental problems. Prescription drugs can only do so much helping the mentally ill go through their daily lives and more should be done to help those who need more than medicine to cope with their illness. Mental health should be considered just as important as physical health because of how advanced physical healing is, how the public reacts to those with mental illness, and due to the consequences that could happen if the illness is not correctly helped.
It is deeply alarming that ignoring mental health is systematically ignored as an important part of health promotion. This is shocking because, in theory, mental health is recognized as an important component of health, the close link between physical and mental health is recognized, and it is generally known that physical and mental health share many of the same social, environmental and economic components. We know that facilities dedicated to those with mental health problems are more vulnerable to the resources of physical diseases in many parts of the world, and it is essential that mental health promotion should not be equally affected
Mass media “references to people with mental health problems found more than four in ten articles in the press used derogatory terms about mental health and nearly half of press coverage related mental illness to violence and crime” (Esseler, 244). This is causing for people to look down upon the mention of mental illnesses and many times ignore the importance of confronting this issue. Therefore the importance of removing this stigmatization is crucial. Education allows to make more informed decisions and then changing the perception of mental illness can lead towards policy changes toward the improvement of mental health (Sakellari,