Essay Sample on Stigma in Mental Illness

The term Mental Health describes the state or condition of the brain. When certain regions of the brain are not functioning correctly, for example, depression, which is when there is a lack of chemicals like serotonin and dopamine in the brain, is Mental Illness. To receive a diagnosis, your psychologist or physician will typically ask you a series of questions relating to Mental Illness to see if you have symptoms. About 15% of the global population lives with mental illness; furthermore, there could also be many who are undiagnosed. (Mental Health, Gale Opposing Viewpoints Collection.) Children also make up a considerable portion of those diagnosed with mental illness; approximately one in eleven children have a Mental Illness/Disorder. (NYT Magazine, Kim Tingley, 2022) The most commonly diagnosed illnesses are Depression and Anxiety. Behavioral disorders like ADHD also have a high rate of diagnosis. But in the age of the internet and social media, Mental Health is now frequently discussed. Diverse perspectives on mental illness have emerged from these discussions, including a rise in stigma. The concept of stigma describes a harmful opinion or idea about a particular subject or situation. Regarding the considerable population of people that suffer because of this crisis, it becomes evident why stigma can become an extensive and damaging issue. Stigma in Mental Illness can impact both adults and children; it has led to many things such as lack of treatment, discrimination, and harmful stereotypes.

Stigma in Mental Illness can cause a lack of treatment for a particular illness. “Research suggests that stigma may impede people from seeking or fully participating in mental health services. In particular, the threat of social disapproval or diminished self-esteem that accompanies the label may account for underused services.”(How Stigma Interferes with Mental Health Care, Corrigan 04) Lack of treatment is a significant concern because that treatment is the only way a person will know their diagnosis. Treatment for mental illness is the key to living a healthier life and being able to help not solely yourself but the people around you. This stigma can even affect children and adolescents, especially the parental role in treatment. “...parents may be reluctant to seek help when their child displays symptoms of behavioral disorders for fear of being negatively judged or having a child and family welfare authorities intervene.” (Behavioral Disorders, Gale Opposing Viewpoints Collection) Because of this reluctance and shame, children may go without treatment for an extensive period of time. As a result, if they do not undergo treatment, they may develop problems that endure into adulthood.

Stigma in Mental Illness can lead to discrimination and erroneous information, namely, the severity and complexity of mental illness. “Most articles discuss people with mental illness in terms of dangerousness or violent crime. Studies have shown that as many as 86 percent of stories dealing with mental illness focus on violence” This stereotype can cause others to regard affected people as dangerous or compel the disallowance of their rights in certain places. These stereotypes can also lead to things like unintentional discrimination. The phrase Unintentional discrimination describes the act of doing something or reluctance to do something that induces inadvertent harm to people. The vast majority of discrimination against people with mental illnesses is unintentional. The government and the general public push for more psychiatric assistance yet are unwilling to pay for it. As a result, many psychiatrists and mental health professionals will transition to private clinics. As a result,  psychiatric institutes are paid less because of the speculation that mental illness needs less support or superiority than physical illness and diseases. Furthermore, this produces a big problem because it leads to a severe lack of mental health treatment. (P.W. Corrigan, F.E. Markowitz, A.C. Watson, 04)

Stigma on Mental Health has led to harmful stereotypes and an insalubrious environment. A study using English and American media analyzed certain stereotypes against mental health. The stereotypes found were as follows: 

Fear and exclusion: people with mental illnesses are dangerous and have ostracization from most communities.

Authoritarianism: individuals with mental illnesses are irresponsible, and others should make their life decisions for them;

Benevolence: People suffering from mental illnesses must receive care likewise to children.

(Understanding the impact of stigma on people with mental illness, Corrigan 02) In a society where you want to be present and acknowledged, feeling feared or repressed can be incredibly traumatic. It might lead to afflicted persons believing they are undesired and insignificant. “Research shows that people with mental illness often internalize stigmatizing ideas that are widely endorsed within society and believe that they are less valued because of their psychiatric disorder.“ (How Stigma Interferes With Mental Health Care, Corrigan 04) Based on these two sources, it is clear that these false stereotypes are harmful and have an abrogating impact on people with mental illnesses. Furthermore, internalizing those ideas can make mental illness worse for those affected.

Some may argue that mental health awareness has progressed significantly, but not far enough. Comparing Mental Health awareness in the present to times when information was not readily available is an arbitrary notion. In the 20th century and later, information about mental health was inaccessible or barely studied. Therefore, comparing it to a time when information is easily accessed and studied extensively creates an unbalanced comparison. The reality that the media is still exposing people to offensive stereotypes and false information, despite mental awareness coming a long way, demonstrates the need for further information regarding mental illness to be publicized. 

The stigmatization of Mental Illness is a persistent problem that affects both children and adults and can result in an unstable atmosphere, discrimination, and a lack of medical care. Adverse opinions or presumptions about Mental health can lead someone to avoid asking about getting treatment for their illness. This concept of stigma refers to the harmful stereotypes and discrimination against Mental Illness, including the notion that affected people are incompetent and unable to accomplish daily tasks. This notion furthermore encompasses how people endorse mental health awareness but contradict themselves when asked to contribute to medical establishments that support the field of psychiatry. Awareness of these stigmas and information on the effects they induce will help educate individuals who are still using these adverse sentiments. Furthermore, this will foster and improve the atmosphere and discussion around mental illnesses.