Stigma associated with mental illness runs deep
Try playing this little game with a friend, parent or co-worker.
Ask them to list three adjectives that describe a person with mental illness. Then ask them to list three adjectives that describe a person with breast cancer. Finally, ask them to list three adjectives that describe a friend.
More than likely the person will use words like “crazy”, “sad”, “depressed”, “lonely”, “patient”, “consumer or victim”, “scared”, “down”, “violent”, etc. to describe someone with a mental illness.
In describing someone with breast cancer they will likely use words such as “strong”, “confident”, “undeserving”, “survivor”, “thriving”, “family connection”, etc.
And in describing a friend the person will likely use words like “fun”, “caring”, “happy”, “smart”, “loyal”, “honest”, “responsible”, etc.
See the difference?
Whether you play this game with youth, parents, educators or even health professionals you get the same result - positive words to describe a friend or a physical health problem like breast cancer and negative words to describe a mental illness like Depression.
And what if the your friend had Anxiety Disorder or Depression? Would that change your perception of them as a fun, smart, caring, loyal person? Would they suddenly be relegated to being a crazy, lonely, scared patient?
The stigma surrounding mental illness runs deep. It is embedded in our actions, our culture and our language.
Imagine a time when we describe and perceive people living with mental illnesses the same way we describe and perceive our friends or people living with physical health problems!
Tags: Mental Illness, Stigma
August 17th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Thank you for posting this. I really appreciate the point that you make about the prevailing negative stigma surrounding mental illness. I work for a non-profit that sheds light on mental illness through theater. Your suggested “game” of three questions is one very good way to bring to light (and to challenge!) the assumptions many people carry about mental illness.
August 18th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Thanks Oriana - checked out your blog. will follow your posts. in the past we have done some work with a local film festival. always good to explore new partnerships. best of luck with your work.