WHAT IS STIGMA?
STIGMA
Stigma can be a hurdle; making it hard to hold conversations, for parents to be supportive, and to seek treatment. It’s the responsibility of the whole community to attempt to empathize and support those with mental illness and one of the best ways we can do that is to educate ourselves – understand what life is like for them and remove the prejudices and stereotypes (we all have them) from our minds.
Stigma is a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have. Even though many people suffer from mental illnesses, you often only know someone has a mental illness if they tell you. Unlike physical illnesses, it can be hard to understand what the person is experiencing and how to help. Sometimes mental illness can make people act differently, which may make you uncomfortable. When we feel uncomfortable we often (even unconsciously) treat others differently; we may be stigmatizing them based on ideas about mental illness portrayed by inaccurate news reports, over dramatic movies, or tv shows.
WHY IS STIGMA HARMFUL?
Stigma is a fundamental barrier to seeking and engaging in mental health treatment for individuals managing depression. In teens, findings show personal stigma may effect females more, whereas public stigma may influence males more.
Despite the high rate of teen depression, two-thirds of young people experiencing mental health problems said that fear or judgement has stopped them from telling a friend (which can be far easier than telling an adult).
HOW CAN I FIGHT STIGMA?
Seeking treatment, does not increase perceived stigma, and adolescents with depression are most likely to be helped when a family sought treatment. It only takes a few people to smash stigma by starting (normalizing) conversations and educating others. If you’re open about mental health, you can show your child that it’s ok to openly talk about mental health problems.
Sources
Stigma. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2017, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stigma
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Understanding Stigma. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2017, from http://teenmentalhealth.org/live/understanding-stigma/
Jorm, A. F., Kelly, C. M., Wright, A., Parslow, R. A., Harris, M. G., & McGorry, P. D. (2006). Belief in dealing with depression alone: Results from community surveys of adolescents and adults. Journal of Affective Disorders, 96(1–2), 59–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2006.05.018
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ParentINFO, Devon, N. Stigma and mental health: a parent's guide. Retrieved July 30, 2017, from http://parentinfo.org/article/stigma-and-mental-health-a-parent-s-guide
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Time To Change. (2017, March 09). Parents' guide. Retrieved July 30, 2017, from https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/what-you-should-know/parents-guide