The Stigma of Mental Illness in Today’s Society
Abstract
In today’s society, there is a social stigma attached to having a mental illness. Before it became a medical model, mental illness was thought to be “demonic or spirit possession, and were ‘explanations’ that would almost certainly give rise to reactions of caution, fear, and discrimination” (Davey, 2013). Even though today we know demonic possession is not the cause of mental illness, the reactions are often still the same. A stigma can be defined as, “when someone views you in a negative way because because of a distinguishing characteristic or personal trait that’s thought to be a disadvantage” (mayoclinic.org). Today there are ways to cope with the social stigma. Some of the ways to deal with it are to get treatment, don’t let stigma create self-doubt and shame, don’t isolate yourself, join a support group, and speak out against stigma (mayoclinic.org). How a person with a mental illness deals with their disease goes a long way in how their treatment goes.
The Stigma of Mental Illness in Today’s Society
In today’s society, if someone is diagnosed with a mental illness, they also carry a stigma with them that can affect how they are perceived as well as how they live their lives. Before it became a medical issue, early beliefs about the cause of mental health problems, such as demonic or spirit possession, were ‘explanations’ that would almost certainly give rise to reactions of caution, fear and discrimination (Davey, 2013). While the causes of mental illness are no longer thought to be demonic, there is still a fear, as well as a negative connotation associated with it. There are many harmful effects that come along with the stigma of mental health, ranging from not wanting to seek treatment to the belief that it is not possible to improve the situation (mayoclinic.org). With advancements in the knowledge of mental illness, there are...