Stigma and Mental Health

What is stigma?

Secrecy

Taboo

Ignorance

Gulf

Myths

Avoidance

Myths• People with mental health problems are in a minority

• People with schizophrenia, alcoholism, drug addictions are dangerous to others

• Individuals with any mental illness are unpredictable, hard to communicate with

• People with depression, eating disorders, alcoholism and drug addiction need to pull themselves togetherRef: ONS Survey by Royal College of Psychiatry UK (2003)http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/PDF/report_9803.pdf

• People who commit suicide are selfishJoiner,T. (2011). Understanding and overcoming the myths of suicide. Psychiatric Times ; 28: 1 (19th Jan) at www.psychiatrictimes.com

Results of Stigma

• Less than 4 in 10 employers would consider employing someone with a mental health problem

• 1 in 3 people with mental health problems report being dismissed/forced to resign

• 44% of people with mental health problems thought they had experienced discrimination from GPs

• 18% would not disclose their condition to a GP

• 24% thought individuals with a history of mental health problems should be excluded from public office

• Department of Health Research Report on Attitudes to Mental Illness, (2000) 30 March www.dh.org.uk and Mental Health Foundation Survey (2000) “Pull Yourself Together” April www.mentalhealth.org.uk

Further Reading

• See also: World Health Organisation. Promoting mental health: concepts, emerging evidence, practice: a report of the World Health Organization, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse in collaboration with the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation and the University of Melbourne. (URL: http://www.who.int/mental_health/evidence/MH_Promotion_Book.pdf)

• Victoria Health Promotion Foundation., 2005. A plan for action 2005-2007. Promoting mental health and wellbeing. (URL: http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/en/Publications/Mental-health-promotion/A-Plan-for-Action-2005-to-2007.aspx)

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