by Autumn Lewis
Stigma usually stems from fear or a lack of understanding of a concept or entity. Studies by The Lancet on the “Health Crisis of Mental Health Stigma” say while the public may accept the medical or genetic nature of a mental health disorder and the need for treatment, many people still have a negative view of those with mental illness.
How can you change this negative view? You must be open minded. You can do this by following a few tips from Psychiatry.org:
- Show compassion for those with mental illness.
- Correct the media when they use stigmatizing language surrounding those with mental illness.
- And last but not least, educate yourself and others on mental illness and mental health in general.
These suggestions can help change your perception along with those around you when it comes to mental illness. That’s the biggest step we can take on the road to stopping the stigma.
References:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)00687-5/fulltext
https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/stigma-and-discrimination