I t’s important to recognize that the fear of stigmas associated with mental health issues often stops people from seeking help and taking advantage of the many effective treatments available today.
One in four U.S. adults will have a mental illness this year.That’s 25 percent of our population, making mental illness more common than most other diseases we often talk about.
Stigma is when someone judges you based on a personal character trait. Unfortunately, this is a common experience for people who have a mental health condition. Stigma may be obvious and direct, such as someone making a derogatory remark about your mental illness or your treatment. Or it may be subtle, such as someone assuming you could be unstable, violent or dangerous because you have a mental illness.You may even judge yourself. Harmful effects of stigma can include: lack of understanding by family, friends, and colleagues
discrimination at work or school
difficulty finding housing
bullying, physical violence or harassment
becoming convinced that you will never be able to succeed at certain challenges or that you can’t improve your situation
Here are some ways to deal with stigma:
Get treatment. Don’t let the fear of being “labeled” with a mental illness prevent you from seeking help. Treatment can provide relief by identifying what’s wrong in concrete terms and reducing symptoms that interfere with your work and personal life.
Don’t let stigma create self-doubt and shame.You may have the mistaken belief that your condition is a sign of personal weakness, or that you should be able to control it without help. Seeking psychological counseling, educating yourself about your condition and connecting with others with mental illness can help you gain self-esteem and overcome destructive self-judgment. Don’t isolate yourself. Have the courage to open up to your spouse, family members, friends, clergy or other members of your community. Reach out to people you trust for the compassion, support and understanding.
Don’t equate yourself with your illness. You are not an illness as a label, so first and foremost, you are a person, not just a label. So instead of saying “I’m bipolar,” say “I have bipolar disorder.” Instead of calling yourself “a schizophrenic,” call yourself “a person with schizophrenia.” Don’t say you “are depressed.” Say you “have clinical depression.”
Join a support group. Local and national groups, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness, offer local programs and Internet resources that help reduce stigma by educating people with mental illness, their family members and the general public.
Get help at school. Discrimination against students because of a mental health condition is against the law, and educators at primary, secondary and college levels are required to accommodate students the best they can.Talk to your child’s teachers and if a teacher doesn’t know about the student’s disability, it can lead to discrimination, obstacles to getting good education, and poor grades.
Speak out against stigma. Express your opinions at events, in letters to the editor or on the Internet.Your positive actions can help instill courage in others facing similar challenges and educate the public about mental illness.
Make a difference by encouraging individuals whose lives are being affected by mental health issues to seek treatment. Helping to create awareness around the misconceptions associated with mental illness will make a difference.
Board eligible psychiatrist Dr. Reznik is part of the Bay Behavioral Health practice and on the medical staff at Raritan Bay Medical Center. Bay Behavioral Health provides a wide range of outpatient services, including comprehensive assessment, counseling and medication management for individuals with any type of psychiatric disorder, including those associated with older adults. Dr. Reznik is fluent in Russian and English. To make an appointment at his 466 New Brunswick Ave., Perth Amboy, office, call 732-324-5199.