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Eliminating the Stigma of Mental Illness
The staff and administration of Child Guidance & Family Solutions are committed to eliminating the stigma of mental illness and its destructive effect on our citizens and community.
What is stigma?
It is an ancient Greek word that originally referred to the mark or brand put on slaves to separate them from free men. It is currently defined as: “A sign of disgrace or discredit which sets a person apart from others.”
There are three components to stigma: First is stereotyping (the neutral perception that a person is different from you), followed by prejudice (negative beliefs about
that difference), leading to discrimination (negative actions based on those beliefs).
Prejudice about people with mental illness:
People mistakenly view those with mental illness as: dangerous (who should be feared and excluded); incompetent (who should be controlled or not be allowed to make their own decisions); and/or lacking willpower (who need to be cared for or not be independent).
Discrimination against people with mental illness:
Research shows that compared to others, people with mental illness are: less likely to be hired; less likely to have apartments rented to them; more likely to be rejected by friends and family; and more likely to be falsely accused of a crime. People suffering from a mental illness thus have to deal with the consequences of both the illness and the stigma.
The worst form of stigma:
While public stigma leads to negative treatment of the stigmatized group, worse yet is self stigma. This occurs when members of the stigmatized group react to the public attitudes toward them with self-defeating beliefs and behaviors including avoiding treatment.
What can be done?
There are three approaches to fighting the destructive effect of stigma on those with mental illness:
1. Protest - Stigma is a moral injustice. Urge people not to think or act in such a socially inappropriate way.
2. Education - Challenge inaccurate stereotypes about mental illness and replace them with factual information.
3. Contact - Challenge attitudes through direct interactions with members of the stigmatized group (either face-to-face interactions with people who have mental illness or via media representations).
Want to learn more or arrange for a presentation on this topic for your group? Call CG&FS now!
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| Steven Jewell, M.D., Medical Director | |
Dr. Steven Jewell, received Board certification in both Adult and Child/Adolescent Psychiatry. He is on the faculty of Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NEOUCOM) and has been elected to the Board of Directors of the American Association of Community Psychiatrists.
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