America, Mental Health and Stigma
The presence of mental health conditions among American citizens are much like physical ones in at least one respect. Mental health issues affect the same physical bodies people have, despite the separation of brain and body by the medical community where studies and medical treatment of human beings are concerned. While the human brain is a highly-complex part of the human body, it is inseparable from the body. Stigmas associated with mental health disorders in America need to cease.
The presence of mental health conditions among American citizens are much like physical ones in at least one respect. Mental health issues affect the same physical bodies people have, despite the separation of brain and body by the medical community where studies and medical treatment of human beings are concerned. While the human brain is a highly-complex part of the human body, it is inseparable from the body. Stigmas associated with mental health disorders in America need to cease.
Mental health conditions are ones that involve changes in a person's mood, behavior, and/or thinking. They are associated with impaired functioning or distress; should they be more severe they are referred to as mental illnesses. Forms of mental illness may include attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, depressive or other forms of mood disorders, schizophrenia, or eating disorders. Mental illnesses that occur in children are called, 'serious emotional disturbances,' or SEDS.
They key word in all of this is, 'illness.' When someone you know contracts, for example: the swine flu that caused a pandemic alert, or perhaps a form of viral infection – do you call them names, belittle them in front of others, deny that you even know them, or feel ashamed of them? Or you do you instead rally around them, reach to support them, and wish them well as they reach for better health? The presence of a mental illness in a person's life is no different.
The easy thing for too many people to do is label another person while overlooking what is really inside. When forms of mental illnesses are used as labels; illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, manic or hyperactive, the labels truly do hurt. The use of negative labeling leads to branding and shame, something called, 'stigma,' which leads to discrimination. Given America's history, everyone is aware that it is wrong to discriminate against others on the basis of their culture, race, or religious beliefs.
People in America are becoming more aware of the fact that it is also wrong to discriminate against others based upon their disability, physical, or mental health status. Unfortunately, the level of awareness is nowhere near as inclusive of people with mental illnesses, who continue to be discriminated against in America. The discrimination may not always be obvious, yet it exists and causes harm - personal harm.
Stigma does not involve only the use of words or actions that are wrong; it also involves levels of disrespect. Stigma involves the use of negative labeling in order to identify a person who lives with a form of mental illness. Stigma is a barrier to inclusion of the persons in society and discourages both individuals and their family members from reaching for assistance they need out of fear of discrimination. How many people in America does stigma have the potential to affect? There are 50 Million Americans who experience a form of mental health disorder in any particular year; approximately one-fourth of them actually receive the mental health and additional services they could use. As the SAMSHA website states:
"Words have power. They have the power to teach, the power to wound, the power to shape the way people think, feel, and act toward others. When a stigmatized group of people, such as those with mental illnesses, is struggling for increased understanding and acceptance, attention to the language used in talking and writing about them is particularly important."
Words have the ability to limit a person's potential. People who experience forms of mental illnesses, like others in society, desire to be known and recognized for their talents, skills, and abilities – not labeled for their medical diagnosis. A person's medical diagnosis does not define who they are as a person. The use of terminology such as, 'nuts,' or, 'crazy,' only reinforces the negative attitudes and discrimination associated with forms of mental illnesses and those affected by them. Such terminology many times prevents people who both need and desire assistance from seeking it. The importance of how we use language in relation to mental health, as well as disability in general, cannot be over-stated. The use of language is one of the primary places to begin addressing discrimination and social exclusion related to people with forms of mental illnesses.
For more information concerning Mental Health Issues, please visit: <a href=”http://www.adscenter.org/topic/language/brochures.aspx” target=”_BLANK”>SAMHSA - Brochures, Fact Sheets, Guides and Toolkits</a>
Statistical information about forms of mental health disorders in America can be found at:
<a href=”http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml” target=”_BLANK”>The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America</a>
<a href=”http://www.nmha.org/go/state-ranking” target=”_BLANK”>Ranking America's Mental Health: An Analysis of Depression Across the States</a>
The presence of mental health conditions among American citizens are much like physical ones in at least one respect. Mental health issues affect the same physical bodies people have, despite the separation of brain and body by the medical community where studies and medical treatment of human beings are concerned. While the human brain is a highly-complex part of the human body, it is inseparable from the body. Stigmas associated with mental health disorders in America need to cease.
Mental health conditions are ones that involve changes in a person's mood, behavior, and/or thinking. They are associated with impaired functioning or distress; should they be more severe they are referred to as mental illnesses. Forms of mental illness may include attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, depressive or other forms of mood disorders, schizophrenia, or eating disorders. Mental illnesses that occur in children are called, 'serious emotional disturbances,' or SEDS.
They key word in all of this is, 'illness.' When someone you know contracts, for example: the swine flu that caused a pandemic alert, or perhaps a form of viral infection – do you call them names, belittle them in front of others, deny that you even know them, or feel ashamed of them? Or you do you instead rally around them, reach to support them, and wish them well as they reach for better health? The presence of a mental illness in a person's life is no different.
The easy thing for too many people to do is label another person while overlooking what is really inside. When forms of mental illnesses are used as labels; illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, manic or hyperactive, the labels truly do hurt. The use of negative labeling leads to branding and shame, something called, 'stigma,' which leads to discrimination. Given America's history, everyone is aware that it is wrong to discriminate against others on the basis of their culture, race, or religious beliefs.
People in America are becoming more aware of the fact that it is also wrong to discriminate against others based upon their disability, physical, or mental health status. Unfortunately, the level of awareness is nowhere near as inclusive of people with mental illnesses, who continue to be discriminated against in America. The discrimination may not always be obvious, yet it exists and causes harm - personal harm.
Stigma does not involve only the use of words or actions that are wrong; it also involves levels of disrespect. Stigma involves the use of negative labeling in order to identify a person who lives with a form of mental illness. Stigma is a barrier to inclusion of the persons in society and discourages both individuals and their family members from reaching for assistance they need out of fear of discrimination. How many people in America does stigma have the potential to affect? There are 50 Million Americans who experience a form of mental health disorder in any particular year; approximately one-fourth of them actually receive the mental health and additional services they could use. As the SAMSHA website states:
"Words have power. They have the power to teach, the power to wound, the power to shape the way people think, feel, and act toward others. When a stigmatized group of people, such as those with mental illnesses, is struggling for increased understanding and acceptance, attention to the language used in talking and writing about them is particularly important."
Words have the ability to limit a person's potential. People who experience forms of mental illnesses, like others in society, desire to be known and recognized for their talents, skills, and abilities – not labeled for their medical diagnosis. A person's medical diagnosis does not define who they are as a person. The use of terminology such as, 'nuts,' or, 'crazy,' only reinforces the negative attitudes and discrimination associated with forms of mental illnesses and those affected by them. Such terminology many times prevents people who both need and desire assistance from seeking it. The importance of how we use language in relation to mental health, as well as disability in general, cannot be over-stated. The use of language is one of the primary places to begin addressing discrimination and social exclusion related to people with forms of mental illnesses.
For more information concerning Mental Health Issues, please visit: <a href=”http://www.adscenter.org/topic/language/brochures.aspx” target=”_BLANK”>SAMHSA - Brochures, Fact Sheets, Guides and Toolkits</a>
Statistical information about forms of mental health disorders in America can be found at:
<a href=”http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml” target=”_BLANK”>The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America</a>
<a href=”http://www.nmha.org/go/state-ranking” target=”_BLANK”>Ranking America's Mental Health: An Analysis of Depression Across the States</a>The presence of mental health conditions among American citizens are much like physical ones in at least one respect. Mental health issues affect the same physical bodies people have, despite the separation of brain and body by the medical community where studies and medical treatment of human beings are concerned. While the human brain is a highly-complex part of the human body, it is inseparable from the body. Stigmas associated with mental health disorders in America need to cease.
Mental health conditions are ones that involve changes in a person's mood, behavior, and/or thinking. They are associated with impaired functioning or distress; should they be more severe they are referred to as mental illnesses. Forms of mental illness may include attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, depressive or other forms of mood disorders, schizophrenia, or eating disorders. Mental illnesses that occur in children are called, 'serious emotional disturbances,' or SEDS.
They key word in all of this is, 'illness.' When someone you know contracts, for example: the swine flu that caused a pandemic alert, or perhaps a form of viral infection – do you call them names, belittle them in front of others, deny that you even know them, or feel ashamed of them? Or you do you instead rally around them, reach to support them, and wish them well as they reach for better health? The presence of a mental illness in a person's life is no different.
The easy thing for too many people to do is label another person while overlooking what is really inside. When forms of mental illnesses are used as labels; illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, manic or hyperactive, the labels truly do hurt. The use of negative labeling leads to branding and shame, something called, 'stigma,' which leads to discrimination. Given America's history, everyone is aware that it is wrong to discriminate against others on the basis of their culture, race, or religious beliefs.
People in America are becoming more aware of the fact that it is also wrong to discriminate against others based upon their disability, physical, or mental health status. Unfortunately, the level of awareness is nowhere near as inclusive of people with mental illnesses, who continue to be discriminated against in America. The discrimination may not always be obvious, yet it exists and causes harm - personal harm.
Stigma does not involve only the use of words or actions that are wrong; it also involves levels of disrespect. Stigma involves the use of negative labeling in order to identify a person who lives with a form of mental illness. Stigma is a barrier to inclusion of the persons in society and discourages both individuals and their family members from reaching for assistance they need out of fear of discrimination. How many people in America does stigma have the potential to affect? There are 50 Million Americans who experience a form of mental health disorder in any particular year; approximately one-fourth of them actually receive the mental health and additional services they could use. As the SAMSHA website states:
"Words have power. They have the power to teach, the power to wound, the power to shape the way people think, feel, and act toward others. When a stigmatized group of people, such as those with mental illnesses, is struggling for increased understanding and acceptance, attention to the language used in talking and writing about them is particularly important."
Words have the ability to limit a person's potential. People who experience forms of mental illnesses, like others in society, desire to be known and recognized for their talents, skills, and abilities – not labeled for their medical diagnosis. A person's medical diagnosis does not define who they are as a person. The use of terminology such as, 'nuts,' or, 'crazy,' only reinforces the negative attitudes and discrimination associated with forms of mental illnesses and those affected by them. Such terminology many times prevents people who both need and desire assistance from seeking it. The importance of how we use language in relation to mental health, as well as disability in general, cannot be over-stated. The use of language is one of the primary places to begin addressing discrimination and social exclusion related to people with forms of mental illnesses.
For more information concerning Mental Health Issues, please visit: SAMHSA - Brochures, Fact Sheets, Guides and Toolkits
Statistical information about forms of mental health disorders in America can be found at: The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America
Ranking America's Mental Health: An Analysis of Depression Across the States
