Despite the truth that mental disorders are relatively common in America (according to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 46 percent of Americans will experience a diagnosable mental disorder throughout their life), stigma of mental illness remains an ongoing problem.

Just a few decades past, many people placed in straitjackets with serious depression along with other mental disorders were shunned, and locked away in institutions. And while society has come a ways since then, we still have progress to make in terms of getting individuals the help they need while treating them with esteem and dignity.

“Blot related to mental illness is a national health problem,” says Melissa Pinto, PhD, RN, an instructor in the School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University who analyzes stigma related to mental health. “Young people hear messages about mental health disorders from an early age — as an effect, many of them are frightened to be around people who have mental illness.”

One serious effect of the stigma around mental disorders is that two-thirds of affected individuals do not seek help, says the National Alliance on Mental Illness; the primary reasons individuals give to explain why comprise fear of disclosure, rejection, and discrimination.”Blot reinforces attitudes and behaviours that prevent many people with symptoms of mental illness from seeking the treatment they need,” Pinto says.

As stated by the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health, in its most serious type mental health stigma can lead people to avoid socializing and working with — including renting to and hiring — folks with mental disorders, especially severe illnesses such as schizophrenia.

It may seem you’ve got no preconceived notions about people with depression or other types of mental illness, however you might be guilty of perpetuating mental health blots. Expressions of mental health blot tend to be shown during day-to-day interactions in pretty subtle and sophisticated ways, Pinto says.

Subtle Signs of Stigma Against the Mentally Ill

These examples of mental health stigma can allow you to accomplish an “aha” moment with regard to your personal activities and attitudes:

Mental illness in the media. “On television, characters using a mental health disorder often play the villain,” Pinto says. “In order to eradicate mental illness stigma, these media portrayals need to be accurate.” One step forward is the supporting characterizations of psychiatry on shows including Monk,The Sopranos, and In Treatment, says Howard Belkin, MD, JD, an assistant professor in the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine as well as a shrink in the Birmingham Counseling Center in Royal Oak, Mich.

Phrases like “She’s lost her marbles” or “He’s not playing with a complete deck.” It’s simple to throw terms for example these about in casual conversation, but doing so boosts mental health blot. “Instead, use care in the way you describe someone having a mental health disorder,” Dr. Belkin says. “Remember: The mental illness isn’t the person’s fault, and she may be doing everything she can to try to get better.”

“Loony” Halloween costumes.
Contemplating going next Halloween as a psycho killer or straitjacketed mental ward patient? Both costumes firmly boost mental health stigma and falsely describe all people with mental illness as violent. “Sadly, some individuals with mental illness, especially paranoia, can have a tendency toward violence, so when they become violent it may be tragic, together with heavily insured by the media,” says David M. Reiss, MD, interim medical director at Providence Behavioral Health Hospital in Holyoke, Mass. “Nevertheless, what the media will not remind the people is the vast majority of people who have mental illness are not violent. Overall, statistically, a person with mental illness is no more prone to become violent than the usual man without mental illness.”

Common — but wrong — assumptions about people with mental illness. “For example, individuals may presume someone with depression or a different mental illness is mentally ill, lazy, untrustworthy, unintelligent, or unable,” when that’s not true, says Mary Pender Greene, LCSW-R, a group psychotherapist in private practice in New York City.

Verbal innuendoes. As you talk about someone having a mental illness, you can match specific words with a change in your tone of voice. For instance, you could whisper the term “depression” or “bipolar.” “People pick up on these clues, which communicate melancholy blot to the listener,” Pinto says.

Isolation of individuals with mental illness. When speaking to someone with depression or another mental health problem, you could automatically step back to improve your physical space from the person, or turn away from him or her. “You might also speak to the person with mental illness within an upset or condescending tone or as if he was a child,” Pender Greene says. People who have mental health illnesses are also more often disregarded in group social situations and normally more rejected by others.

Disrespect for the seriousness of other mental health issues along with depression. Telling someone with mental illness to “get over it” or “snap out of it” is not only insensitive, it also boosts mental health blot, Pender Greene says. Instead, she suggests pushing past the misconceptions floating about by educating yourself with the facts.

Overall, the most effective approach to prevent encouraging mental health stigmas will be to give other types of mental illness along with people with depression the respect and kindness they deserve.
“Good mental health is a goal we should all seek,” Belkin says. “We should show understanding and compassion for anyone suffering from both minor and significant mental health issues. In the event the topic of another mental illness or depression comes up in conversation, be empathetic. All things considered, you or one of your nearest and dearest may one day suffer from mental health symptoms.”