Stigma: Building Awareness And Understanding About Mental
Illness

Mental illness can strike anyone! It knows no age limits,
economic status, race, creed or color During the course of a
year, more than 54 million Americans are affected by one or more
mental disorders
Medical science has made incredible progress over the last
century in helping us understand, curing and eliminating the
causes of many diseases including mental illnesses However,
while doctors continue to solve some of the mysteries of the
brain, many of its functions remain a puzzle
Even at the leading research centers, no one fully understands
how the brain works or why it malfunctions However, researchers
have determined that many mental illnesses are probably the
result of chemical imbalances in the brain These imbalances may
be inherited, or may develop because of excessive stress or
substance abuse
It is sometimes easy to forget that our brain, like all of our
other organs, is vulnerable to disease People with mental
illnesses often exhibit many types of behaviors such as extreme
sadness and irritability, and in more severe cases, they may
also suffer from hallucinations and total withdrawal Instead of
receiving compassion and acceptance, people with mental
illnesses may experience hostility, discrimination, and stigma
Why does stigma still exist?
Unfortunately, the media is responsible for many of the
misconceptions which persist about people with mental illnesses
Newspapers, in particular, often stress a history of mental
illness in the backgrounds of people who commit crimes of
violence
Newspapers, in particular, often stress a history of mental
illness in the backgrounds of people who commit crimes of
violence Television news programs frequently sensationalize
crimes where persons with mental illnesses are involved
Comedians make fun of people with mental illnesses, using their
disabilities as a source of humor Also, national advertisers
use stigmatizing images as promotional gimmicks to sell products
Ironically, the media also offers our best hope for eradicating
stigma because of its power to educate and influence public
opinion
What Is A Mental Illness?
A mental illness is a disease that causes mild to severe
disturbances in thinking, perception and behavior If these
disturbances significantly impair a person’s ability to cope
with life’s ordinary demands and routines, then he or she should
immediately seek proper treatment with a mental health
professional With the proper care and treatment, a person can
recover and resume normal activities
Many mental illnesses are believed to have biological causes,
just like cancer, diabetes and heart disease, but some mental
disorders are caused by a person’s environment and experiences
The five major categories of mental illness:
·Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses The
three main types are: phobias, panic disorders, and
obsessive-compulsive disorders People who suffer from phobias
experience extreme fear or dread from a particular object or
situation
Panic disorders involve sudden, intense feelings of terror for
no apparent reason and symptoms similar to a heart attack
People with obsessive-compulsive disorder try to cope with
anxiety by repeating words or phrases or engaging in repetitive,
ritualistic behavior such as constant hand washing
· Mood Disorders
Mood disorders include depression and bipolar disorder (or manic
depression) symptoms may include mood swings such as extreme
sadness or elation, sleep and eating disturbances, and changes
in activity and energy levels Suicide may be a risk with these
disorders
·Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a serious disorder that affects how a person
thinks, feels, and acts Schizophrenia is believed to be caused
by chemical imbalances in the brain that produce a variety of
symptoms including hallucinations, delusions, withdrawal,
incoherent speech and impaired reasoning
·Dementias
This group of disorders includes diseases like Alzheimer’s which
leads to loss of mental functions, including memory loss and a
decline in intellectual and physical skills
·Eating Disorders
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia involves serious, potentially
life-threatening illnesses People with these disorders have a
preoccupation with food and an irrational fear of being fat
Anorexia is self-starvation while bulimia involves cycles of
bingeing (consuming large quantities of food) and purging
(self-inducing vomiting or abusing laxatives) Behavior may also
include excessive exercise
Common Misconceptions About Mental Illness
Myth: “Young people and children don’t suffer from mental health
problems”
Fact: It is estimated that more than 6 million young people in
America may suffer from a mental health disorder that severely
disrupts their ability to function at home, in school, or in
their community
Myth: “People who need psychiatric care should be locked away in
institutions”
Fact: Today, most people can lead productive lives within their
communities thanks to a variety of supports, programs, and/or
medications
Myth: “A person who has had a mental illness can never be
normal”
Fact: People with mental illnesses can recover and resume normal
activities For example, Mike Wallace of “60 Minutes”, who has
clinical depression, has received treatment and today leads an
enriched and accomplished life
Myth: “Mentally ill persons are dangerous”
Fact: The vast majority of people with mental illnesses are not
violent In the cases when violence does occur, the incidence
typically results from the same reasons as with the general
public such as feeling threatened or excessive use of alcohol
and/or drugs
Myth: “People with mental illnesses can work low-level jobs but
aren’t suited for really important or responsible positions”
Fact: People with mental illnesses, like everyone else, have the
potential to work at any level depending on their own abilities,
experience and motivation
How You Can Combat stigma:
1 Share your experience with mental illness Your story can
convey to others that having a mental illness is nothing to be
embarrassed about
2 Help people with mental illness reenter society Support their
efforts to obtain housing and jobs
3 Respond to false statements about mental illness or people
with mental illnesses Many people have wrong and damaging ideas
on the subject Accurate facts and information may help change
both their ideas and actions
Mental Illness in the Family
Recognizing the Warning Signs How to Cope
Most people believe that mental disorders are rare and “happen
to someone else” In fact, mental disorders are common and
widespread An estimated 54 million Americans suffer from some
form of mental disorder in a given year
Most families are not prepared to cope with learning their loved
one has a mental illness It can be physically and emotionally
trying, and can make us feel vulnerable to the opinions and
judgments of others
If you think you or someone you know may have a mental or
emotional problem, it is important to remember there is hope and
help
What is mental illness?
A mental illness is a disease that causes mild to severe
disturbances in thought and/or behavior, resulting in an
inability to cope with life’s ordinary demands and routines
There are more than 200 classified forms of mental illness Some
of the more common disorders are depression, bipolar disorder,
dementia, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders Symptoms may
include changes in mood, personality, personal habits and/or
social withdrawl
Mental health problems may be related to excessive stress due to
a particular situation or series of events As with cancer,
diabetes and heart disease, mental illnesses are often physical
as well as emotional and psychological Mental illnesses may be
caused by a reaction to environmental stresses, genetic factors,
biochemical imbalances, or a combination of these With proper
care and treatment many individuals learn to cope or recover
from a mental illness or emotional disorder
How to cope day-to-day
Accept your feelings
Despite the different symptoms and types of mental illnesses,
many families who have a loved one with mental illness, share
similar experiences You may find yourself denying the warning
signs, worrying what other people will think because of the
stigma, or wondering what caused your loved one to become ill
Accept that these feelings are normal and common among families
going through similar situations Find out all you can about
your loved one’s illness by reading and talking with mental
health professionals Share what you have learned with others
Handling unusual behavior
The outward signs of a mental illness are often behavioral
Individuals may be extremely quiet or withdrawn Conversely, he
or she may burst into tears or have outbursts of anger Even
after treatment has started, individuals with a mental illness
can exhibit anti-social behaviors
When in public, these behaviors can be disruptive and difficult
to accept
The next time you and your family member visit your doctor or
mental health professional, discuss these behaviors and develop
a strategy for coping
Establishing a support network
Whenever possible, seek support from friends and family members
If you feel you cannot discuss your situation with friends or
other family members, find a self-help or support group These
groups provide an opportunity for you to talk to other people
who are experiencing the same type of problems They can listen
and offer valuable advice
Seeking counseling
Therapy can be beneficial for both the individual with mental
illness and other family members A mental health professional
can suggest ways to cope and better understand your loved one’s
illness
When looking for a therapist, be patient and talk to a few
professionals so you can choose the person that is right for you
and your family It may take time until you are comfortable, but
in the long run you will be glad you sought help
Taking time out
It is common for the person with the mental illness to become
the focus of family life When this happens, other members of
the family may feel ignored or resentful Some may find it
difficult to pursue their own interests
If you are the caregiver, you need some time for yourself
Schedule time away to prevent becoming frustrated or angry If
you schedule time for yourself it will help you to keep things
in perspective and you may have more patience and compassion for
coping or helping your loved one Only when you are physically
and emotionally healthy can you help others
“Many families who have a loved one with mental illness share
similar experiences”
It is important to remember that there is hope for recovery, and
that with treatment many people with mental illness return to a
productive and fulfilling life
Warning Signs and Symptoms
To learn more about symptoms that are specific to a particular
mental illness, refer to the NMHA brochure on that illness The
following are signs that your loved one may want to speak to a
medical or mental health professional
In adults:
confused thinking
prolonged depression (sadness or irritability)
feelings of extreme highs and lows
excessive fears, worries and anxieties
social withdrawal
dramatic changes in eating or sleeping habits
strong feelings of anger
delusions or hallucinations
growing inability to cope with daily problems and activities
suicidal thoughts
denial of obvious problems
numerous unexplained physical ailments substance abuse
In older children and pre-adolescents:
substance abuse inability to cope with problems and daily
activities
change in sleeping and/or eating habits
excessive complaints of physical ailments
defiance of authority, truancy, theft, and/or vandalism
intense fear of weight gain
prolonged negative mood, often accompanied by poor appetite or
thoughts of death
frequent outbursts of anger
In younger children:
changes in school performance
poor grades despite strong efforts
excessive worry or anxiety (ie refusing to go to bed or school)
hyperactivity
persistent nightmares
persistent disobedience or aggression frequent temper tantrums

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