Mental Health Stigma
Introduction
Mental Health stigma can affect many individuals daily. It can make an individual who is suffering from a mental illness or disorder feel like they arent worth anything and that there is no point to seeking help because they feel no one will listen or understand. Mental Health stigma can be an uncomfortable topic for many, especially if they themselves suffer from mental illness and/or have their own mental health stigma.
Mental Health Stigma Defined
Mental Health stigma is defined as a sign of disgrace or discredit toward mental health. This could make an individual feel unwanted and worthless. Its important to note that many people who suffer from mental illness already have a difficult time speaking about their mental illness and if stigma is also involved, it will more than likely push that person away from receiving the help they need. Mental health can be a touchy topic and if people are feeling judged and viewed as not good enough due to their mental health struggles, they will more than likely withdraw from others as well as keep to themselves. Withdrawing from others involves lack of a social life, which can in turn, create depressive thoughts and feelings. Mental health stigma can create an awful, vicious, spiraling cycle. It was mentioned in the article titled, Reducing mental illness stigma: Effectiveness of hearing about the normative experiences of others, that individuals with stigmatizing perceptions of mental illness may not be willing to seek contact with people they perceive to have mental illness (Hackler, et al, 2016, p. 201).
Self-Stigma
There is also something called Self-stigma and it can correspond to the negative self-perceptions and demoralization that occur when societal stigma regarding mental health and counseling is internalized and applied to the self (Lannin, et al, 2016, p. 351). In the article titled, Does self-stigma reduce the probability of seeking mental health information?, it was mentioned that if counseling is viewed as threatening, its more likely that individuals will perceive it as negative (Lannin, et al, 2016). It was also mentioned that previous research has found that ones attitude toward counseling mediates the relationship between self-stigma and the intentions to seek counseling (Lannin, et al, 2016, p. 352).
Self-Reflection
Its important to self-reflect when feeling stressed and that your mental health is getting the best of you. Self-reflection is a great tool to use when feeling overwhelmed, because it helps us consider who we are and why we are feeling the way we do. Think about the whole system, such as, goals, beliefs, values, who youre surrounding yourself with, home life, the list can go on and on. Self-reflection can also serve as a grounding tool, to help us stay balanced and grounded in our daily life.
Meditation and Mindfulness
Meditation and mindfulness can serve as a positive and healthy way on how to deal with the pressures of mental health stigma. Meditation involves focusing on breathing, so, when inhaling, allow the belly to expand and when exhaling, allow the belly to sink in. Also, remember to breathe with your abdomen and not your chest, as this creates shallow breathing and the feeling of panic. Mindfulness is being mindful of whats around you and also being grateful for what you have. If we focus on the negatives, negatives will follow. If we focus on the positives, positives will follow.
Discussion Questions
v What does it mean to have mental illness?
v Would you say that you suffer from your own self-stigma? If so, why is that?
v Do you experience mental health stigma where you live? If so, what can you do to decrease the possibility of mental health stigma?
Great websites to look at! Just copy and paste them into your browser.
1) http://letstalk.bell.ca/en/ways-to-help
2) http://letstalk.12kindsofkindness.com/ - Share your story and even join them on Instagram!
3) https://www.instagram.com/letstalkaboutmentalhealth/?hl=en
References
Hackler, A. H., Cornish, M. A., & Vogel, D. L. (2016). Reducing mental illness stigma: Effectiveness of hearing about the normative experiences of others. Stigma And Health, 1(3), 201-205. doi:10.1037/sah0000028
Lannin, D. G., Vogel, D. L., Brenner, R. E., Abraham, W. T., & Heath, P. J. (2016). Does self-stigma reduce the probability of seeking mental health information?. Journal Of Counseling Psychology, 63(3), 351-358. doi:10.1037/cou0000108
@EssenceOfHope
@LotusFlower92
Out standing work. Your very right on this and love that your putting it out there for every one. Thank you for your post
@Reececup1986 thank you very much for your kind words!
@LotusFlower92
Your very welcome
@LotusFlower92
Out standing work. Your very right on this and love that your putting it out there for every one. Thank you for your post
Is actually annoys the hell out of me that the stigma of mental health still exists in this society, let alone people actually make jokes about mental health maybe if people were to be educated on it more the stigma would eventually die down possibly.
@ChloeTheDuck. I agree with you !
What does it mean to have mental illness? A chemical imblance in the brain (similar to how a diabetic has an insulin imbalance in their body.)
Would you say that you suffer from your own self-stigma? If so, why is that? Most definitely. As a Christian, I''m aware that other believers carry the 'stigma' of mental health in the fact that they believe that a devoted follower of Jesus Christ should not suffer from depression. If we do, it is because of a lack of faith. After all, we should have the 'joy of the Lord' in our lives. Struggling with a mental illness has nothing to do with faith. Faith cannot change the way an individual's body functions. Yes, I beleive that God has the power to bring about healing, but I also believe that He gave gifted individuals wisdom and knowledge to develop a variety of forms of treatment for mental illness (just like physical illnesses), which can include medications. I am a pastor's wife and have struggled with depression for over 20 years. I am taking antidepressants now and could very possibly be needing to take them for the rest of my life. It has taken me a long time to deal with the shame and feeling of inadequacies as a person of faith who struggles with depression. I've accepted it, and believe in my heart, that it does not devalue me as a person! I'm becoming more vocal about it, but there is still a fear of what others may think and the potential damage to my credibility as a follower of Jesus Christ.
Do you experience mental health stigma where you live? If so, what can you do to decrease the possibility of mental health stigma? Yes, there is a mental health stigma where I live. There is truly a lack of understanding about mental illness and a lack of awareness of the enormous number of individuals who are struggling with their mental illness alone because of the stigma. My openness and vulnerability to share my own personal struggles have helped others to overcome the stigma and to seek the help they need. If I can make a diffference in just one person's life, it's all worth it!
@tmf4him awh I really appreciate your answers! I've found a lot of faithful Christians hold a stigma toward mental illness too and I find it sad and discouraging. I'm glad you're able to get the help you need, though! I'll probably be on medication for the rest of my life as well. Awesome response!
@tmf4him. I liked your answer about some Christian beliefs, I too suffer from that, my father was a pastor for 50 yrs. Now retired, but as a Child and an adult, my parents have awa
@jr50. Always have said if you have mental issues than , you can not be following the Way, well, many years later ,I have discovered that what I was taught is wrong, because I believe everyone gas different trials to bear and how we handle them and who we turn to is what matters! I am still learning the right info but I am confident that I am a Christian also! And we can't let what others say matter! I loved your post!
@tmf4him
I cant tell you what a relief it is to discover that there are people at the heart of the church institute who know the dangers of stigma! It tore up my life when my mother was rejected from the community. I understand why they did it but I was never convinced if what was done then was done right.
I still battle that. And I still wonder what kind of loyalty I am meant to have. I have a calling to my family and I have my duties to the church, both under the will of God and yet they tend to oppose each other so strongly. I had to take a step back from both to spend time alone with God and figure out what part I am meant to play.
It has been so hard. Like I know God is there and he is helping me but he doesn't offer me the answers I want. At least not yet. I know it will be for the better because he is greater and knows better than I, but when he says no to what I think are my most holy intentions, I can't help but feel stung and a little resentment inside.
I'm still battling the guilt. And because I don't know who I am to be to them, it looks like I am avoiding the circumstance which isn't true. I just want fellowship and acceptance. I fear if I were to be honest to them, I would be moving away from that concept intead of growing closer to it.
@Maddz4Christ
Thank you so much for sharing your heart in your post! I hear you and I can relate to your struggles. My husband and our children have endured some very difficult and painful times at the hands of the 'church', yet ironically, both my husband and I remain in full-time ministry! So many times we were tempted to walk away from the church. We had such a hard time extending forgiveness to those that hurt us. But over the years of healing, God made it very clear to us that our faith should not be in the church, but in Him. When we started focusing on our faith in Him, we were able to look back on the tough and unfair times and see how He carried us through it all. He used that time to build our character and strengthen our faith in the hope He gives to us through Jesus Christ.
I'm very sorry about the pain your mother had to endure and the hurt that you still feel as a result. I can certainly understand the confusion and the battle going on in your heart when you see people who are supposed to be following God, yet treat others so miserably. I admit that I had been one of 'those people'. One of the events in my life that made me aware of that and changed how I treat others was the diagnosis of major depression. I was shocked at the stigma of mental health in the church and the responses I would get when I selectively shared that I struggle with depression. It was there many, many years ago and, unfortunately, remains today. It woke me up to how judgemental and critical I was of others. It was painful, but it was beneficial.
If I heard what you were saying correctly, your faith in God is important to you, but the church has caused you to pull back. Believe me when I say that there is no perfect church and there will always be people in the church that will disappoint - just as there are people who will disappoint in many areas of life. However, I now that my God will never disappoint me and He will always be there for me - even in the times when I may not sense His nearness. If I could encourage you in anything, I would encourage you to just focus on your relationship with God through Christ. It's the relationship that is most important. For me, it's through that relationship that I am able to pull through rough times, that I am able to extend forgiveness, that I am able to recognize my flaws and receive the help to correct them, that I can change my perspective in situations and in relationships. It's my relationship with Jesus Christ that is most valuable to me, and it is through that relationship that I have a heart for His church - warts and all!!
Again, in a nutshell, I would encourage you to just stay focused on your relationship with God. If the church is a stumbling block for that, step aside from it for a little while. It's not about our weekly presence in a church building or following a particular denomination's guidelines. It's all about Jesus!
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers!!
@tmf4him
Actually, I never gave up on the church. It stayed a big part of my heart and still does. I do play an active part in ministry today and I found a new home church with my guy just recently. He and I both enjoy it very much and are looking forward to how God will call us to play our parts there.
I stepped back before because it got heavy at that time and I knew the part expected of me was not the part I wanted to play. I stepped back for many of the same reasons you all did and kept my faith in the church for the same reasons you all did. I confronted the people involved in the situation with my mother and found peace when we offered out condolences and forgiviness to each other.
Now I am starting over. I still have a lot of questions about what happened then but I realize I need to be moving on now. If I need to know, God will reveal it to me. Now I have my own story to write. And despite the stigma that still exists, I have learned how to approach these odd circumstances a little better now.
I am so glad people like you are still in the hear of the church!! Thank you for being the hope for the rest of us!
@Maddz4Christ HUGS!!!
Thanks for the lovely post @LotusFlower92
v What does it mean to have mental illness?
To me having a mental illness is just like having a physical illness, except for a mental illness effects the brain. A mental illness can be caused by chemical imbalances or structural differences in the brain that can be biological or caused by the environment.
v Would you say that you suffer from your own self-stigma? If so, why is that?
I don't feel like I suffer from self-stigma anymore. I've always mostly embraced my mental illnesses as a way of understanding and explaining why I behave and feel the way I do at times. For me the diagnoses answered questions.
v Do you experience mental health stigma where you live? If so, what can you do to decrease the possibility of mental health stigma?
I haven't experience a lot of mental health stigma where I live. The worst has been my family but it's because of lack of understanding but now they're a lot more understanding after having watched me battle with my mental health for years. I think I've also avoided a lot of stigma by surrounding myself with other people who have and/or understand mental illness. I think stigma is the result of fear and ignorance, so the best thing I can do is continue being me and educate people on mental illness to show them there's nothing to be afraid of.
@InvaderStitch hi there, thanks for your reply! I can agree with you there: that my family has held a stigma against mental illness as well, only up UNTIL they witnessed a mental breakdown along with rapid weight loss and giving up on everything. It was awful and I'd never want to experience that again, but I can agree with your perspective! I'm glad you don't hold a stigma toward yourself. Thanks again for your replies!
Attack panic helpp :(
@Lety91 so sorry! Make sure you remember to breathe. Inhale, let your belly expand. Exhale, let your belly sink in. Breathe from the abdomen, not the chest, as this creates shallow breathing and the feeling of panic.
To me living with a mental illness means having something that mentally doesn't click. Like there's something missing. But it also means strength: strength to carry on, strength to beat the odds, and strength to fight the stigma surrounding mental health.
I deal with self-stigma in relation to school and being able to accomplish my academic goals. A desire to be perfect and my anxiety tell me I cannot do it, that it's too hard to accomplish, that it's not worth the effort. I have a tendency to let thoughts and feelings of depression stigmatize me by letting them take control. Motivation becomes lost, sadness and hopelessness set in.
I experience stigma when I explain anxiety to someone who doesn't experience it. I might experience stigma when I tell others I have a mental illness and they become judgemental. However, this doesn't hold true for everyone. I notice stigma when depression is talked about with a friend; he or she often admits rarely talking about it.
To decrease this stigma, I can educate others and beat the odds that are trying to tear me down. I can help others realize that it's okay to admit struggling with something. I can help others realize that admitting you need help is okay.
@safeandsoundta I understand. I'm very hard on myself too, especially with school. Unfortunately I believe that I'll fail everything and it upsets me but I keep working on myself by trying to get myself to distinguish rational and irrational thoughts. I'm sorry you have a difficult time but you aren't alone!
Yep- educating people would be best. I agree :-) thanks for your response!
@LotusFlower92 Distinguishing between rational and irrational thoughts is a good coping mechanism to combat anxiety related thoughts. The need to achieve can set a person up for much stress and puts on a lot of pressure. But you're doing your best and that's all that matters! :)
No problem! I'm glad we get to talk about the stigma surrounding mental health.
What does it mean to have mental illness?
To have a mental illness, to me, is to have a medical condition which is just like any other health-related condition. I don't think anyone should be stigmatized, or treated any differently, on the basis of having a mental health condition.
Would you say that you suffer from your own self-stigma? If so, why is that?
I would say, I at times criticize myself more harshly than I should, because I have experienced bullying and stigmatization from others, on the basis of having a mental health condition. However, I think it's important to keep in mind, that the stigma related to mental health in society, is a wholely fabricated societal stigma, meaning that it was completely made up. There is no official rule that people with mental health conditions deserve to be mistreated or treated in a lesser fashion. That is why, I think the societal stigma has to continue to improve and lessen. The negative connotations applied to mental illness are irrelevant, as persons suffering are still valuable, worthwhile, talented, intelligent, coherent individuals in many cases.
Do you experience mental health stigma where you live? If so, what can you do to decrease the possibility of mental health stigma?
I have experienced mental health stigma online and where I live. I think it's important to voice your opinions and make your needs and values heard, because nobody deserves to be mistreated, or disrespected, including those suffering from medical conditions, like mental health conditions. I think that mental health conditions need to be viewed as separate from a person, just as a person suffers from heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke, etc., and they are NOT their illness.
@IsabelleJ I understand! I'm so sorry you've been bullied. I hate it when I hear about bullying but unfortunately it happens. :-( unfortunately stigma does still indeed exist, but we are human! I don't think people purposely try to judge but it may come naturally because they don't understand. People usually don't like it when they don't understand things so it could come off as a judgment. I think educating people would help, but in a nice manner of course! Thanks for sharing!
