This post will be all about the Stigma regarding Mental Health, its types, and how we, as individuals, can start rising above it and start conversations around Mental Health.
But before we start going into the details,
Let me start off with a simple question, “How many of you suffer from, or know someone who is suffering from a Mental Illness?” Just give it a try right now.
With the times we live in, with our families, friends, I can guarantee that virtually almost everyone knows someone with a mental illness.
And if you said yes to my question above, you are not alone, and if you said no, you are not alone as well.
Worldwide, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health issue in a given year. This statistic is based on the 2001 WHO Report and is considered a general metric everywhere. Since its 2020 now, that metric is not much helpful. I think it should be about 3 in 4 people considering the societal expectations, and the shallow nature of things.
But, since I don’t have exact figures, I would be going with the 2001 stats only.
The World population is around 7.8 Billion, so if you do the math, everyone should know someone suffering from Mental Health. And the fact that you think you don’t just go on to show the lack of awareness regarding Mental Health issues and the Stigma surrounding it.
Even more frightening is the response people give when someone dares to open up with them. Answers like, “Don’t think too much,” or “You’ll be fine,” sounds more dramatic rather than empathetic. The funny thing, it is not their fault as well. We have been programmed to feel sad after seeing someone with a broken bone, or physical disability, but no one has ever taught us how to be empathetic with someone suffering from a Mental Illness.
I’ll be using a simple example to illustrate the extent of the Stigma people faces regularly throughout the post.
Ravi is a fine young man with a desire to become a top-end photographer and is currently working in an MNC. Read the post to learn more about him.
What is Stigma?
It is a set of negative or unfair beliefs often associated with a certain distinct characteristic of an individual by society. Considered as a mark of disgrace, it is used to separate a certain section of society based on stereotypes passed over generations, labeling those who don’t fit in, as an outcast.
In simple words, it is a shared assumption for anything that doesn’t fit into the regular norms. It is mostly based on ignorance, misconceptions, and misunderstandings, rather than on ground reality and facts. And when a major portion of the population believes in it, it starts showing up everywhere.
It can lead to discrimination (in most cases, it does), like someone using insinuating remarks against you. It could be subtle or unintentional like people avoiding you or showering unnecessary attention (it’s often unintentional due to the other person not knowing how to carry the conversation without hurting you) due to your Mental Illness.
Ravi has been feeling low for quite a few years now, and he has no idea why. He is restless and often has to push through the day without breaking apart. Suffering from severe depression, he often ends up crying at night for no reason. He is feeling more and more empty day after day.
But he’s afraid to speak up to someone. He has no idea where to take shelter in. He’s afraid of taking it up with his Manager and afraid to speak up with his girlfriend and friends.
Why is Mental Illness stigmatized?
Among Asian countries, there is a lack of education regarding Mental Illness, and in countries like India, many people still consider being mentally unwell as equivalent to being mad. So there’s a huge stigma surrounding Mental Illness.
In addition to this, most societies view mental illness as some sort of psychologically threatening disorder. The typical behavior often leads to fear from the side of the society, and isolation and low self-esteem on the side of the victim.
People with Mental Illness often have to deal with both sides of the coin. On the one hand, they struggle with the challenges that arise with the Illness (Emptiness, panic attacks, mood swings, etc.). Secondly, they have to deal with the prejudice, stereotypes, and discrimination that result due to the misconception and ignorance around Mental Illness (like Mentally Ill Patients are violent). Like Seriously, smh.
In the 2002 research Paper published by Amy C Watson and Patrick W Corrigan, they shared their research regarding the Stigma associated with Mental Illness. In the paper, they’ve described the Impact of Stigma as twofold.
First, Public Stigma, this results from the preconceived notions and stereotypes that have been generalized over decades or centuries, and are generally the default reaction of the masses against people with Mental Illness.
Second, is something known as Self-Stigma, which basically means taking in the public attitude, agreeing with it, and then internalizing it, arising feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy.
Today, I’ll be talking about both kinds of Stigma and how we can start getting past the stereotypes, and prejudices and start the conversation.
Public Stigma
Public Stigma, as the name suggests, is the stigma that results from the misconceptions that the general population has with Mental Illness patients.
In other words, how the world (or the general public) views a patient with a Mental Illness.
To give you an example, the reason I was afraid to come out of my depression and seek help, was because I thought it was a sign of weakness. I didn’t realize I’ve become a cog in the system by subconsciously accepting and believing it as true. And still very few people in my circle know that I actually struggled with severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety for more than a decade.
The reason behind it was simple, I never felt comfortable sharing my story. Everyone seemed happy, so I thought it was me just not fitting in. It just felt like my struggles are just not worth it.
Ravi had been shunned by his society as the rumors of him having clinical depression spread around.
“We have to let you go for the safety of everyone,” the society Manager said.
“Safety?,” but I’ve not done anything, “He said.”
“Sorry, we just can’t.”
As he walked across the town, he said to himself, ‘Am I dangerous? But even I don’t want to feel this way.”
And then silence.
“I think it’s better to remain silent, otherwise I’ll be ostracized by the whole world.”
As I was writing this, I remembered a masterpiece said in the movie Joker by Arthur Fleck,
“The worst part of having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you don’t.”
Over the years, the media and movies have portrayed mentally ill patients as violent and irrational. And this has been generalized by the audience as a reality for anyone who is Mentally Ill. It’s time we start rising above this Stigma and start having these difficult conversations.
Components of Stigma
3 components contribute to any kind of Stigma:
1. Stereotypes
2. Prejudice
3. Discrimination
In the case of Public Stigma, they are identified in this manner,
Stereotypes, in a nutshell, are the negative views/beliefs against a group of persons that are agreed upon by a large population. Stereotypes like Incompetence, dangerousness, public shaming, still loom around people with Mental Illness.
Above all, in a country like India, there exist a plethora of stereotypes ranging from equating Mentally unwell as a misfit to name-calling and bullying if a person is sensitive or meek. The biggest stereotype and I think it’s the case everywhere, no one really talks about it.
It’s just like the “He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named” aloud (Harry Potter reference).
Many people still consider it as untreatable and as a sign of weakness.
Prejudice, basically means, to agree with a certain belief, exuding a response of fear, disgust, violence, and anger against the prejudiced group.
The biggest prejudice that I can think of, is the work industry. If you have a single red flag, and you shared your diagnosis with your employer, you’ll not get a job. 99.9% of the time. The moment you share your truth, baam, now there’s a section of society for which you’re not eligible for:
1. A part of the workforce.
2. As a partner, because you’re thought as manipulative/dangerous
3. In short, for being a human
There’s a huge gap between the reality and the stigma that has been showcased and believed for centuries.
There was a Social Experiment done in 2018, and I would really love for you to take your 5 mins, and watch it. I loved watching it, and I know you will too. It really elaborated on the difference between what people feel about Mental Illness and the reality.
Discrimination is just the behavior response to prejudice. Withholding housing opportunities and employment, bullying, avoidance, and even being beaten to the bone are just some classic examples of discrimination.
Society is the reason why many of us never come out and speak our truth.
In addition, society evokes shame in people. It is the reason why every hour, one student commits suicide in India, the reason behind “You” and “I” feel we’ll never be enough, and the reason most of us never live our true life.
It’s enough now. How long are Individuals going to suffer at the hands of the uneducated, depraved mindset of society? So, find your answers, and let your voice out, through any range or medium. Rise above the Stigma and let your voice be heard.
Self-Stigma
Self-Stigma arises when people internalize the public attitude (labels placed on them) regarding their illness, and suffer both at the hands of the society, and at their own hands.
Once a person internalizes those negative stereotypes (like mentally ill patients are violent, or they are not responsible), then negative emotional responses start to rise within them. Low Self-Esteem, fear of looking others in the eye, not feeling enough are just some of the examples of these emotional responses.
Achieving Goals doesn’t feel fulfilling, nor does winning accolades. There’s a feeling of nothingness, and no matter how much you do, that feeling never fades away.
Self-Stigma does more harm than Public Stigma and is one of the underlying issues behind suicide and self-harm.
Due to Self-Stigma, you might feel or have experienced one or more of these things:
- You’re not good enough (feelings of inadequacy)
- You’ll fail
- You’re not worthy of opportunities or as I call it “It doesn’t matter” effect.
- Low Self-Esteem
- Difficulty looking others in the eye or walking looking down
- Fearing what will others think or say
- Heard Voices in your head (The Self-deprecating ones)
- Fearing yourself or the voice in your head
- And more…
People don’t realize when they’ve internalized all of the public stigma directed at them, and accepted it as their truth.
The reason you feel you aren’t good enough, or you’re not worthy, or you’ll fail is because, over the years, the outside voices have seeped in so deep that now you’ve started believing it as your reality.
In Meditation, it’s said that our mind’s natural truth is limitless, boundless, and clear like the sky. However, as we step out into the real world, through others’ opinions, trauma, a difficult childhood, every single day contributes to clouds building up, creating a foggy atmosphere, enveloping the sky.
That state is just like when thoughts, fears, and judgment find a home in our hearts.
But, if you fly in a plane, and ride above the clouds, you’ll find the sky there, just as infinite and filled with colors and wisdom. That’s your true nature, in fact, it’s everyone’s true nature.
How Self-Stigma Arises?
In its core, it comprises 3 steps, awareness of a stereotype, agreeing with it, and then applying it to oneself.
As a result, many feel hollow and incomplete, confining themselves to the worldview imposed by society, slowly eating away at their self-worth.
For the most part of my life, I felt that I’m not good enough, and it is just a few years back that I realized that it was largely due to my parents’ unnecessary expectations of me, in all parts of life. Failures were not looked upon as good, and success was not deemed as good, cause there used to be another milestone that they felt I should reach.
And that pattern of being more, and doing more, ended up making me feel inadequate, yearning for something out of my reach. The voice inside my head just used to tell me, ‘this isn’t good enough, there is more that you could’ve done.’ That endless loop never stopped.
If a person is labeled as crazy for the most part of their lives, they’ll start believing that they’re crazy, it’s just how it is. It becomes an identity for them.
Ravi has just come home. His friends have started to maintain distance from him, his girlfriend has no idea what to do, and is more scared than helpful.
What started as rumors now feel true to him.
Maybe I am wrong for feeling this way. If I act like this, everyone will run away from me. What can I do?
A smile, yes, a smile.
Let’s turn that frown upside down.
But this feeling? It’s my fault in the first place, so I’ll have to deal with it alone.
“He fades away.
So how can we go about having these conversations?
All of us can do our bit in chipping away the Stigma of Mental Illness in our own way. Rising above Mental Health Stigma is achievable and a need of the hour. The most important aspect is to be open and willing to share and spread the message.
1. Educate Yourself
The biggest reason why we’re still here is that we’ve unconsciously adapted these patterns/Stigmas passed over generations. Now with our closed world-view, we feel everyone should fit in this circle, and those who don’t, end up getting stigmatized.
Rising above the patterns and Stigma that have been assimilated over a period of years or even decades will take a lot of effort and a non-judgemental mindset.
Learn why you have this ideology, what prompted it, and the difference between real facts and your world-view. Your ego might get hurt, but you’ll come out with a better understanding of why we’re still struggling with accepting Mental Illness in the 21st century.
There are so many online resources and books out there which will help you get started.
You can also check this website and see for yourself how much you stigmatize Mental Illness.
2. Start the conversation
Often times we wait for others to open up to us, and then we end up waiting so long, that someone ends up losing hope or worse, their life.
It doesn’t have to come to a specific occasion for you to open up yourself and start the conversation. Accordingly you can start with something like, “I have noticed for a few days that…”, or “How are you, really?, or something like, “You seem lost these days. I’m here for you. Share it with me.”
Even a small step from your part might help ease their worries or even give them the courage to open up to you.
So please don’t wait for the right or the perfect moment, bring it up naturally, and if they aren’t able to open up now, give them space and time to feel comfortable sharing their story.
3. Share your story
It’s super powerful. ‘Vulnerability breeds vulnerability,’ and I’ve seen it over and over again.
For instance, if you went through a depressive episode in the past or have gone through a terrible experience, sharing it with others will most likely make them feel comfortable.
It doesn’t have to be a Mental Health Episode, it could be as simple as how you felt after getting rejected, or how you feel low sometimes. Do it authentically and gently.
You want your feelings to get across them. If the feelings are genuine, they would lower their walls and let you in.
4. Stop shaming others
On the street, in schools, in offices, people get stigmatized daily. No one has the right to judge, spread rumors, and besmirch others.
If you can’t walk into someone else’s shoes, then don’t judge them for their journey.
The worse you can do is make someone feel wrong for something out of their reach. You won’t tell a person who has no legs to walk, in the same manner, don’t tell someone with depression to snap back and come out of it.
If they could, they would’ve already.
5. Incorporate a Mental Health Care Program in your Company/Institution
If you’re a Manager or have some leeway into building your company’s policy, then propose reforms and education about Mental Illness regularly.
You could also use the services of a licensed psychologist to help employees with stress and depression.
Even if you don’t do the above, please give your employees the freedom and space to find peace and relaxation. There are many companies where employees work 10-12 hrs a day, 6 days a week. And often they are not compensated for overtime.
More work hours doesn’t mean more productivity, it just means I’m staying up late because I have no other choice.
For many people, their source of stress or anxiety comes from overburden and unrealistic expectations at work.
Don’t encourage these practices, and if you find someone doing it, raise it to the respective authority.
6. Speak up if you see someone being Stigmatized/ostracized
This is a reminder, to you and me as well.
Every day, every hour, someone is being stigmatized. Not just due to Mental Illness, but for a plethora of reasons. Race, gender, caste, color, comes to Mind.
Use your right and freedom, not just for yourself, but also for those, who don’t have the freedom to. Raise the bar, so that no one feels unsafe walking around, for something they haven’t done, or something they have no control over.
Be the voice, be the change. Be the real ‘YOU.’
7. Get Involved with Organizations who’re bringing the change
There would be many organizations near your area that you could join and lend your support to. You could also support the community through your skills like graphic designing, writing, storytelling, etc.
A quick Google search will tell you how you can start being the change instead of waiting for it.
With his long lost friend’s persistence, Ravi finally visited a therapist and is currently learning to start loving himself again. He lost many friends in the process, but he’s now learning to live without inhibitions and finding support in the form of a therapist, and few of his friends who have stayed strong along his side. He has also taken up with his Manager, and guess what, they were more than happy to listen to him and provide emotional support.
A few years ago, he couldn’t have imagined a possibility like this, and now, as he is living it, he feels good after coming out with this truth.
Now he also extends his support to others who are fearful and scared of the unknown. He urges you to take a stand as well.
Final Thoughts
Rising above Mental Health Stigma is possible and a need of the hour. The answer lies in your hands. Are you going to wait, or are you going to be the change?
Are you going to be the voice for the millions of Ravi out there or are you going to feel sad, and continue on stigmatizing others? Ravi doesn’t need your pity, he just wants to be seen equally and be heard by others. It’s the same as what you and I want.
I hope you liked the post, and if you found it educative, please share this message with others. Share it on your social media accounts, bring it up in conversations, and break up these walls built over centuries. Let’s start rising above this Stigma by doing our bit, and making our voices be heard, loud and clear.
Leave a comment below to let me know how you are doing right now and how much this post helped you.
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I liked the part where you gave an Example of Ravi – cause their it reflects the person with mental illness in real World exist and you should support them
In reality, mental Illness like anxiety, depression, panic attacks are pretty normal and almost everyone goes with at some point in their lives. The actual problem is the Stigma surrounding these illnesses that I’ve tried to highlight here.
Thank you Sakshi, I’m glad it was able to help you.
Great deal of work done by Ravi’s Example – cause it shows the Real World treating Mental Illness.
Thank you