Reading through the blog and just hearing things people say in everyday life has made me realize just how stigmatized we have made mental illnesses. Everyone is guilty of this, including myself, but I think we would all do ourselves a favor if we were more aware of what we are really saying and how this may have an effect on the lives of those people who suffer from mental illness.
People with mental illness are immediately labeled. Upon arrival at a psychologist or psychiatrists office, most people are given a term for their condition: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, antisocial personality disorder, etc., etc., etc. We cannot help this particular label, but what we can do, is help support those with mental illness by not stigmatizing them any further.
One thing I always try to do when talking about people with a mental disorder is referring to them as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia or bipolar disorder instead of calling them paranoid schizophrenics or bipolar. Just as I try to not refer to people with schizophrenics, they should try to eliminate labeling themselves schizophrenics as well.
Calling people "messed up," a "mental case," "psycho," or "crazy" does not in any way help them deal with their illness. People who suffer mental illness are more than likely having a difficult time dealing with the issues they are facing, let alone knowing that other people think they are "freaks." Often times, many people who need treatment neglect seeking it because they do not want to be viewed negatively by their peers, spouses, boyfriends, family, etc.
Neglecting to seek treatment could have serious repercussions, and in terms of this class, create troubles with the law. For example, as we all know, committing murder is very common among people who suffer from various mental illnesses. Many may feel rejected by their families and peers (all of which could be effected by the negative stigmas we give their illness) and feel their only other option is killing innocent people. Instances like this anger us all, but ask yourself - what may you have done to contribute to this? Did you unknowingly say something to the person who committed this crime that may have effected the negative emotions they are already experiencing? Was it you that said the one thing to them that pushed them over the edge?
People with mental illness may experience the self-fulfilling prophecy. If they are continually given cues, subtle or blatant, that we fear them, they will eventually pick up behaviors that really do instill fear in us. For example, I would not hesitate to assume that many people are afraid of individuals who suffer from paranoid schizophrenia because in some cases, people with paranoid schizophrenia have become violent (Mark Becker for example). To what extent does our constructed idea that people with paranoid schizophrenia are violent really affect and cause those with paranoid schizophrenia who are not violent turn violent?
It is no surprise that everybody needs social support and people who will always be there for them, but people facing mental illness need more of this support than those who are not suffering from a mental illness. Instead of looking down upon them and avoiding their "disease," we should be a little more compassionate and understanding. In my opinion, a little less judging and stereotyping on all of our parts has the potential to really help and support those in need and may help stop the instances we all cringe about and cause us to fear those with mental illness. If nothing is ever done, this seemingly endless cycle will continue.
I know it is really hard to teach an old dog new tricks, but I truly believe that society could only benefit if we all start to be more self-conscious and aware of what we say regarding mental illness.
People with mental illness are immediately labeled. Upon arrival at a psychologist or psychiatrists office, most people are given a term for their condition: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, antisocial personality disorder, etc., etc., etc. We cannot help this particular label, but what we can do, is help support those with mental illness by not stigmatizing them any further.
One thing I always try to do when talking about people with a mental disorder is referring to them as suffering from paranoid schizophrenia or bipolar disorder instead of calling them paranoid schizophrenics or bipolar. Just as I try to not refer to people with schizophrenics, they should try to eliminate labeling themselves schizophrenics as well.
Calling people "messed up," a "mental case," "psycho," or "crazy" does not in any way help them deal with their illness. People who suffer mental illness are more than likely having a difficult time dealing with the issues they are facing, let alone knowing that other people think they are "freaks." Often times, many people who need treatment neglect seeking it because they do not want to be viewed negatively by their peers, spouses, boyfriends, family, etc.
Neglecting to seek treatment could have serious repercussions, and in terms of this class, create troubles with the law. For example, as we all know, committing murder is very common among people who suffer from various mental illnesses. Many may feel rejected by their families and peers (all of which could be effected by the negative stigmas we give their illness) and feel their only other option is killing innocent people. Instances like this anger us all, but ask yourself - what may you have done to contribute to this? Did you unknowingly say something to the person who committed this crime that may have effected the negative emotions they are already experiencing? Was it you that said the one thing to them that pushed them over the edge?
People with mental illness may experience the self-fulfilling prophecy. If they are continually given cues, subtle or blatant, that we fear them, they will eventually pick up behaviors that really do instill fear in us. For example, I would not hesitate to assume that many people are afraid of individuals who suffer from paranoid schizophrenia because in some cases, people with paranoid schizophrenia have become violent (Mark Becker for example). To what extent does our constructed idea that people with paranoid schizophrenia are violent really affect and cause those with paranoid schizophrenia who are not violent turn violent?
It is no surprise that everybody needs social support and people who will always be there for them, but people facing mental illness need more of this support than those who are not suffering from a mental illness. Instead of looking down upon them and avoiding their "disease," we should be a little more compassionate and understanding. In my opinion, a little less judging and stereotyping on all of our parts has the potential to really help and support those in need and may help stop the instances we all cringe about and cause us to fear those with mental illness. If nothing is ever done, this seemingly endless cycle will continue.
I know it is really hard to teach an old dog new tricks, but I truly believe that society could only benefit if we all start to be more self-conscious and aware of what we say regarding mental illness.
I completely agree with what you are saying. I believe mental illness has become completely stigmatized in society today. Instead of recognizing that those with special illnesses are still people, we completely ostracize them. By labeling them and calling them schizophrenic or bi-polar, as oppposed to saying they have schizophrenia or they have bi-polar disorder, those with these disorders become them.
I agree that those with mental disorders may complete the self-fulfilling prophecy. There are some many examples in the media of people with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses who murder and create crimes that those who have the disorder pick up that this is how one should act if they do have the disorder.