The first article I chose to examine, The Stigma of Mental Illness Is Making Us Sicker, discusses the drastic ascent in mental illness rates across our country. As reported by the World Health Organization and the World Economic Forum, the economic burden associated with mental health is greater than any other health-related issue. However, this is not due to the costs of treatment, but rather the disability that it fosters and the rapid loss of employment that is experienced as a result. Yet still, 60% of people who suffer from mental illness do not seek treatment, and this is likely due to the outdated stigma that floats around mental health.
More times than not, people hold the belief that people who are affected by mental illnesses are “crazy” or “messed up in the head.” If the affected individual acts out in any way, his or her bystanders have been found to be far more likely to distance themselves from the mentally ill. Consequently, an environment of negativity is instilled, which explains why mentally ill individuals often feel alone and take part in harmful actions.
A second article, 9 Ways To Fight Mental Health Stigma, does a fine job at defining what a stigma literally is. It explains that a stigma is the inappropriate and illegal discrimination of people who live with mental illness. When individuals affected by mental illness sense the stigma saturating the environments in which they live, they feel embarrassed for their illness and tend to avoid seeking the help that they need. The articles goes on to outline nine actionable methods that can be taken to relief the mental health stigma.
Both of the articles recognize the tragically adverse effects that result from the stigma surrounding mental health. They aim to indicate ways in which we can rid our society from the stigma, which is an approach of my deliberation, State of Mind, as well. The primary and arguably most important way in which we can eradicate the stigma of mental illness is to reduce the widespread ignorance of the subject. By implementing ways to make the general public more aware of mental health issues and the needs of people who have mental illnesses or weak mental health, we can hope that compassion will increase as criticism decreases.
Other solutions proposed include talking about mental health more inclusively and openly, instead of treating it like something that needs to be a secret, treating mental health and physical health on the same scale, and refining the media to make it less stigmatizing.
The Stigma of Mental Health is Making Us Sicker– Friedman, Michael. “The Stigma of Mental Illness Is Making Us Sicker.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 13 May 2014, www.psychologytoday.com/blog/brick-brick/201405/the-stigma-mental-illness-is-making-us-sicker.
9 Ways to Fight Mental Health Stigma– Greenstein, Laura. “NAMI.” National Alliance on Mental Illness, 11 Oct. 2017, www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/October-2017/9-Ways-to-Fight-Mental-Health-Stigma.