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Considerations on the Stigma of Mental Illnesshttp://www.cpa-apc.org/Publications/Archives/CJP/2003/november/guesteditorial.asp"Stigma, prejudice, and discrimination are closely related and tightly interwoven social constructs. These constructs affect many, based on age, religion, ethnic origin, or socio- economic status. However, a person can potentially move out of these groups, if not physically—as in age or ethnic background—then by moving up the social ladder, which makes the affected person less of a target. Conversely, stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against those with mental illness cut across all classes and social groups, and, to the extent that many mental conditions are chronic and incapacitating, those affected can hardly migrate out of the grip of negative social attitudes. The result is social annihilation that constricts the lives of those with mental illness, preventing them from fully reengaging in their communities and participating in the social activities of their groups of reference.
The general public most frequently makes contact with mental illness through the media or the movies. Unfortunately, the media often depict patients as unpredictable, violent, and dangerous (1), and movies usually follow the popular “psycho- killer” plot (2) long exploited by the cinematographic industry. Associating mental illness with violence helps to perpetuate stigmatizing and discriminatory practices against mentally ill persons; it is only one of many negative stereotypes and common prejudicial attitudes about them.
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Prejudice often stems from ignorance or unwillingness to find the truth. For example, a study conducted by the Ontario Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association in 1993–1994 found that the most prevalent misconceptions about mental illness include the belief that mental patients are dangerous and violent (88%); that they have a low IQ or are developmentally handicapped (40%); that they cannot function, hold a job, or have anything to contribute (32%); that they lack willpower or are weak and lazy (24%); that they are unpredictable (20%); and finally, that they are to be blamed for their own condition and should just “shape up” (20%) (17). Similarly, a survey among first-year university students in the US found that almost two-thirds believed “multiple personalities” to be a common symptom of schizophrenia, and a poll among the general public found that 55% did not believe that mental illness exists, with only 1% acknowledging that mental illness is a major health problem (18). Some of these myths also surfaced in a study conducted in Calgary during the pilot phase of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) project Open the Doors (19). Respondents to this study believed that persons with schizophrenia cannot work in regular jobs (72%), have a split personality (47%), and are dangerous to the public because of violent behaviour (14%) (20).
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Sensational media reports (24,25) reinforce beliefs instilled by movies that depict mental health patients as “uncontrollable killers.” Relatives of the mentally ill assert that the way they are depicted in movies is the most important contributor to stigmatization (26). Movies have stigmatized not only those with mental illness but also psychiatrists, often extending negative stereotypes to portray them as libidinous lechers, eccentric buffoons, and evil-minded, vindictive, and repressive agents of the social system—and in the case of female psychiatrists, as loveless and sexually unfulfilled (27)."---------- For further reading on the papers brought up in this editorial, see: Stigma and the Daily News: Evaluation of a Newspaper Interventionhttp://www.cpa-apc.org/Publications/Archives/CJP/2003/november/stuart.aspInterventions to Reduce the Stigma Associated With Severe Mental Illnesshttp://www.cpa-apc.org/Publications/Archives/CJP/2003/november/gaebel.aspDeterminants of the Public’s Preference for Social Distance From People With Schizophreniahttp://www.cpa-apc.org/Publications/Archives/CJP/2003/november/angermeyer.aspAlso, see... TEN THINGS YOU CAN DO TO FIGHT STIGMAhttp://www.naminys.org/factsheets.htm "3. WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE. Most of us, including mental health professionals and mental health consumers, use terms and expressions related to mental illness that may perpetuate stigma. We use psychiatric labels to disparage, such as when we complain about aggressive drivers and call them "nuts" and "lunatics." We also depersonalize sufferers of mental illness by referring to them generically as "the mentally ill" or as "a schizophrenic." We can avoid contributing to stigma by avoiding such language and by using People First language to refer to individuals with psychiatric disorders.
4. MONITOR MEDIA AND REPORT STIGMATIZING MATERIAL to any of a number of organizations. The National Stigma Clearinghouse, the National Mental Health Association, and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill protest such material by contacting the people -- authors, editors, movie producers, advertisers -- responsible for the material.
5. RESPOND TO STIGMATIZING MATERIAL IN THE MEDIA. Write, call, or e-mail stigmatizers yourself, expressing your concerns and providing more accurate information that they can use. The organizations mentioned above can help you figure out who to contact."
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