Stigma: Society's True Mental Health Problem

I remember in college, someone in a psychology class saying that it is possible for everyone to be diagnosed with some mental illness, at least to a minor degree. Although it probably is true this doesn’t mean that we can understand the experiences of those who have depression, schizophrenia, or panic attacks. In fact, the case could be made that those with mental illness are the most stigmatized of all groups.

Mental health issues spread across every part of the world. Everyone, either personally, by a family member, friend, co-worker, is effected by it. Yet, as common place as it is, it may be the least understood. It is easy to see why a man with cerebral palsy may need a wheelchair. American Sign Language is appreciated by many as a beautiful language even by those who can’t read it. Understanding why someone is “clinically depressed” is much more abstract and complex. Its hard to understand someone who is fine physically to have problems mentally. It goes against the grain of everything that we have been taught about what is “normal”.

Stigma. It’s a nasty little word, isn’t it? A search on Wikipedia will show that the origin of the word is the Greek word for mark or spot, as in something that marked a person as one to be avoided. And I think that’s exactly how those who have been diagnosed with a mental illness feel. They are seen as crazy and out of control of themselves. Many, rather than try to seek help from psychologists or psychiatrist, try to treat themselves with alcohol or drugs. In fear of being outcast from their own families, churches, and at work, many just hide there mental illness and suffer in shame of not feeling normal. This is sad and, in some cases, dangerous way to live, which often can worsen rather than improve someone’s condition.

All of these issues are a lot to take in for those of us who haven’t personally experienced mental illness. As friends and family members of people with mental health issues, we often feel powerless. We barely understand the few medications we hear about on TV, much less what they do or how they work. We cannot “work out” someone else’s issues. We cannot be an objective third party, like a counselor is, because we love them and see them from our own perspectives already. I’ve seen many family members try to do all this and just give up, writing their loved one off as someone who is crazy and beyond help.

However, I believe we do have one very powerful thing: love and understanding. Our family members, friends, church goers, and neighbors, need to know that we care about them for who they are. What a person’s diagnosis is and understanding it isn’t so important as caring for and loving the person. And once the person truly feels loved, then they love themselves more. This love of self can lead to them going on with life with a mental illness rather than as a mental illness.