Stigmas and discrimination against individuals with mental health illnesses began thousands of years ago. In ancient centuries and in the Middle Ages, mental illnesses were regarded as a religious punishment or being possessed, which frequently lead to torture and isolation. In recent years, individuals with mental health illnesses have experienced severely under-funded hospitals and potential abuse, in addition to the existence of asylums. Even though present-day attitudes are greatly different from those of the past, our society has a long way to go. The history of treatment of individuals with these illnesses has led to vast discrimination and negative attitudes in almost every factor of society. This leads to individuals feeling shamed so much that they do not wish to seek help. In fact, there are more people with mental illnesses in jails than in hospitals, even though they are more likely to be victims of violence. These individuals experience discrimination from law enforcement, in the workplace, those who practice medicine, and more. There are a lot of ways that we can make changes in our lives.
An effective change that we can make is in the language we use to talk about individuals and their conditions. The public’s perceptions of mental illness can be heavily tied to the language we use to describe these conditions and illnesses. Similarly to when you talk about any type of disability, the preferred language is always person-first, such as “he is a person with a disability” compared to “he is disabled.” This helps people understand that the person is not the disease. Additionally, taking initiative to educate ourselves and our loved ones about mental health illnesses can be crucial for many reasons. It helps address misunderstandings that prevent people from seeking help, navigating health services, and understanding how to care for individuals with mental health conditions.
A good model of an initiative to follow in the United States is called Time To Change, which is based in the United Kingdom. They aim to transform how people think and act about mental health problems and open the discussion about this topic. They aim to achieve this in workplaces, communities, schools, social marketing, local businesses, and more. They encourage individuals to educate themselves and learn how they can help others. They share personal experiences and stories that people share so others know they are not alone. Their website also provides resources and ways to get involved. Overall, it is a great way to start a discussion about mental health and realize how important it is to talk about it.
Mental Health Discrimination 