Stigma refers to negative attitudes, beliefs and behaviors directed at individuals experiencing mental health issues. This presents in two forms:
Public stigma is a societal negative perception of mental illness.
Self stigma - whereby an individual internalizes negative perceptions about their own mental illness, leading to feelings of shame and decreased self worth. Guilty am I. Not of public stigma but self stigma. I was exceptionally pre-occupied with admission to a mental health facility on my initial stay. I believed it was so wrong, ‘this shouldn’t have happened to me because I have worked in mental health’! So somehow I should be immune to becoming mentally unwell. Never mind the childhood trauma++ that was now manifesting into mental instability. My errant belief would seem to indicate my perception of individuals with mental illness, though I never really felt negative toward them. I was in fact, irritated when I observed others being overtly derogatory about, or to a person with mental illness!
The key aspects of mental health stigma include:
Stereotyping
Discrimination
Internalization
Barriers to treatment.
When encountering an individual acting in unusual manner do not stare or ridicule, offer assistance and ensure they are safe. Individuals with mental illness rarely present a risk to the community.
Stigma refers to negative attitudes, beliefs and behaviors directed at individuals experiencing mental health issues. This presents in two forms:
Public stigma is a societal negative perception of mental illness.
Self stigma - whereby an individual internalizes negative perceptions about their own mental illness, leading to feelings of shame and decreased self worth. Guilty am I. Not of public stigma but self stigma. I was exceptionally pre-occupied with admission to a mental health facility on my initial stay. I believed it was so wrong, ‘this shouldn’t have happened to me because I have worked in mental health’! So somehow I should be immune to becoming mentally unwell. Never mind the childhood trauma++ that was now manifesting into mental instability. My errant belief would seem to indicate my perception of individuals with mental illness, though I never really felt negative toward them. I was in fact, irritated when I observed others being overtly derogatory about, or to a person with mental illness!
The key aspects of mental health stigma include:
Stereotyping
Discrimination
Internalization
Barriers to treatment.
When encountering an individual acting in unusual manner do not stare or ridicule, offer assistance and ensure they are safe. Individuals with mental illness rarely present a risk to the community.
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