Category: Unit 2

How has Mental Health Become Less Stigmatized?

How do you think the world would be if mental health wasn’t taken seriously? If mental health wasn’t taken seriously, then there would be a bunch of commotion as if your surroundings are a mental asylum because there are people out there not getting the help that they need. Mental health is becoming more of a problem worldwide as time goes by. The world’s current situation isn’t helping to ease mental health issues like stress, anxiety, and depression. When conducting the research, factors like Covid-19 have contributed to mental health issues. In the world today mental health treatment has become less stigmatized because mental health isn’t taken seriously when people view stress, anxiety, and depression solely on it being a rush of emotions. 

Millions of people worldwide have mental health conditions and an estimated 1 in 4 people will have mental health conditions. Mental health has become less stigmatized because reports show that there has been a statistically significant decrease in stigma according to survey respondents. According to an article from HealthPartners, “The surveys show that from 2017 to 2019: More people feel comfortable talking with someone about their mental illness (66% to 71%)… More people would say they would tell friends if they had a mental illness (34% to 41%)… Fewer people say they would be reluctant to seek help (50% to 46%).” This response shows how mental health treatment has become less stigmatized because there are people out here that need to talk to someone, so they can feel better. 

Given the world’s current situation with Covid-19, quarantining, and stopping our social life for the most part has taken negative tolls on many people. During this time people have developed social anxiety and stress because of all the video meetings and zoom parties. The Center of Disease Control states, “Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotion in adults and children… They can make us feel isolated and lonely and can increase stress and anxiety.” This explains how that rush of emotions can negatively affect our way of thinking because it can change the way we cope with mental health issues. The increase of feeling lonely and stressed can bring people to drink and do drugs which is the opposite of what we need when we are going through difficult times. In times like these, you need support from a professional, not something to give you a fix for a day that will worsen your mental health problems. Just experiencing stress can deteriorate your feelings and change your daily routine. It can change the amount you eat, how you sleep, and how you feel physically.

Mental health being stigmatized has been around according to a scientific concept since the 20th century. The article states, “A scientific concept on the stigma of mental disorders was first developed in the middle of the 20th century, first theoretically and eventually empirically in the 1970s. (Rössler, 2)” Mental health is being stigmatized because stigma became apparent from insufficient knowledge about mental illnesses. Because of this it shows prejudice against people with mental illnesses. According to HealthDirect, “Stigma arises from a lack of understanding of mental illness (ignorance and misinformation)… This can lead to discrimination against people with mental illness.” When there’s a “ lack of understanding” it can be hard for outsiders to actually know how people with mental illnesses feel and think.      

There have been a few changes to treatments for mental health. Some being closures of old asylums, bringing care for the community, and a rise in talking therapy. Because of this happening, there are changes in society’s attitude. According to NHS Digital, “There have been so many changes: the closure of the old asylums; moving care into the community; the increasing the use of talking therapies… One major change has been the shift in society’s attitudes. (Venters 1)” This shows that bringing a change to different kinds of treatment can help someone going through the hard times of mental illness. With changes like this there can be a change in how society copes. 

Mental disorders are common and widespread that about 44 million Americans endure some type of a mental disorder each year. Most people believe that mental illness is rare and “won’t happen to them.” According to Mental Health America, “In fact, mental health conditions are common and widespread. An estimated 44 million Americans suffer from some form of mental disorder in a given year. (MHA 1)” This explains how America has a very high rate of people with mental health problems. Also, a big problem is people not admitting that it can happen to anyone because they think they’re invincible to something like this. These are the kinds of people who degrade the ones that struggle because they’re different from everyone else, which isn’t true. Yes, they have some complications with the way they think, feel, and act but they’re just like everybody else who just needs a little extra help. Mental health problems can be related to excessive stress caused by certain situations or sequences of events. So, if you don’t know what someone is going through by being in their shoes, don’t judge them on their mental health. Mental health doesn’t just affect you, it also affects your loved ones and friends. If possible, then seek help from family and friends or you can seek counseling.  A mental health professional can suggest ways to better understand and cope with one’s illness. Treatment can be beneficial to both people with mental illness and other family members. Always keep an open mind when being around someone that is showing unusual behavior because the visible signs of  mental illness are often behavioral in nature. The person may be very quiet or withdrawn. 

The impact of stigma on people with mental illness has two sides to it, public stigma and self-stigma. Public stigma is the general public’s reaction to people with mental illness. Self-stigma is the prejudice against which people with mental illness turn their backs on themselves. The negative beliefs for public stigma are within a group and self-stigma is within yourself. Stigma is a result of prejudice because it can be a disadvantage to a person’s decisions or actions that disregard one’s rights and dignity. It states in World Psychiatry, “Stigma is the consequence of prejudice and prejudice is detriment or damage, caused to a person by judgment or action in which his/her rights and dignity are disregarded. (López-Ibor, Jr, 23)”  The stigma of mental illness seems to be widely supported by the general public in the Western world. Studies have shown that most citizens of  the United States and many Western European countries have a stigmatizing attitude towards mental illness. 

In conclusion,  in today’s world, people don’t take stress, anxiety, and depression seriously as pure emotional expressions, so the stigma of treating mental illness has diminished. So, has mental health become less stigmatized? You can answer both yes and no because there are people’s whos mindset is negative towards mental health issues and yes because there are treatments and opportunities to help them. It is common for people to go through mental health problems. It can be hard for them to cope with it and figure out what is going on with them. Some best ways to cope with stigma is getting treatment, surround yourself with your loved ones and friends, and don’t bring yourself down for having a mental illness. Letting your mental illness take over your whole lifestyle will make it even worse, it’s better if you accept it and get treatment. Educate yourself on different types of treatment one can take like talking therapy and caring for the community. Talking to someone can help a lot. Someone with mental health is not weak, if anything it only makes you stronger than you already are.