- What can be done to reduce the stigma and shame that still surround mental illness?
The stigma and shame regarding mental illness will not be reduced until society is educated about the illness. Many people were reared to believe that mental illness is a ‘taboo’ and anyone labeled such were/are shunned, ridiculed and feared. We have a great feat ahead of us as health educators, many myths to overturn and enlighten with healthcare facts. My heart goes out to individuals suffering from mood disorders, anxiety, stress and depression who are afraid to seek treatment because they fear they will be labeled as mentally ill. Well, if the truth be told, we all have some sort of mental illness…some of us just have better coping skills than others. I too, sometimes feel that I need to go to the doctor to get medication to cope because life can become overwhelming. I personally know two individuals who suffer from mental illness and they do not take their medication after they begin to feel that they can cope because they fear and are ashamed of the stigma associated with their disorders. We have watched too much television and our perceptions are so distorted…people immediately associate individuals suffering from mental illness as needing to be institutionalized in some sort of psychiatric ward or insane asylum. IGNORANCE IS BLISS!
1 comment:
I agree, I feel for people with anxiety disorders and such. It's often genetic, they don't choose to be that way, and they work very hard to avoid the symptoms and improve their condition. We as health educators need to be the voice for these people and educate our audience about mental illnesses.
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