World Mental Health Day –

challenging stigma

World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.

The theme for 2015 is Dignity in Mental Health.

One in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives. Around 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide

Thousands of people with mental health conditions around the world are deprived of their human rights. They are not only discriminated against, stigmatised and marginalised but are also subject to emotional and physical abuse in both mental health facilities and the community. Poor quality care due to a lack of qualified health professionals and dilapidatefacilities leads to further violations

WHY? – Dignity in Mental Health.

Through the theme -“Dignity in mental health”, This year, World health organization is trying to raise awareness of what can be done to ensure that people with mental health conditions can continue to live with dignity, through human rights oriented policy and law, respect for informed consent to treatment, inclusion in decision-making processes, and public information campaigns.

Stigmatising and discriminatory treatment can be particularly distressing when a person is experiencing a health crisis. By failing to treat people with mental health problems with dignity we make it more difficult to ensure that everyone takes steps to safeguard their wellbeing and to seek help, as it can lead to self-stigma, low confidence, low self-esteem, withdrawal and social isolation.

Mental illness and stigma

The lives of people living with mental illness are often drastically altered by the symptoms of the illness and society’s reaction to them. While symptoms can usually be worsened by a number of measures, the inherent stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness may persist for a lifetime and can manifest themselves in a number ways. Three out of four people with a mental illness report that they have experienced stigma.

What is stigma?

Stigma is a mark of disgrace that sets a person apart. When a person is labelled by their illness they are seen as part of a stereotyped group. Negative attitudes create prejudice which leads to negative actions and discrimination.

Typically, stigma takes the form of stereotyping, distrust, fear, or avoidance and can negatively impact pursuit of treatment, employment and income, self­-worth, and families. Individuals with mental illness are commonly labelled as a result of their appearance, behaviour, treatment, socio-economic status, and also due to the negative depiction of mental illness so prevalent in the media

The impact of stigma

Individual as well as families are affected by stigma through various ways;

Prevents the individual from seeking the mental health care or treatment they need

Efforts to conceal mental health problems creates additional stress on individual and family

People and families become withdrawn and isolated

They are excluded from everyday activities

Person and family can be reluctant to seek help, which makes recovery slower and more difficult

Worsen there condition and make it harder to recover.

Their physical health is affected.

Fewer opportunities for work, school or social activities or trouble finding housing

Bullying, physical violence or harassment

low self-esteem and self-worth

increased risk for suicide

How can we challenge stigma?

We all have a role in creating a society that ensures support to those who suffer from mental health problems and ensuring there recovery and social inclusion and reduces discrimination towards them and their family. Simple ways of action include:

understand that mental illness is also a health condition like other physical illness and can be treated

that mental illness is also a health condition like other physical illness and can be treated learn and share the facts about mental health and illness

the facts about mental health and illness Be aware about the fact that intentional or not, naive assumptions, stereotyping, and prejudice can have damaging effects on the course of recovery from a mental illness.

the fact that intentional or not, naive assumptions, stereotyping, and prejudice can have damaging effects on the course of recovery from a mental illness. get to know people with personal experiences of mental illness

people with personal experiences of mental illness don’t judge people or with a mental illness

people or with a mental illness never label people with mental health problems

people with mental health problems treat them with respect and dignity as every others

as every others offer support to people when mentally unwell as when they are physically ill

to people when mentally unwell as when they are physically ill Speak up in protest when friends, family, colleagues or the media display false beliefs and negative stereotypes

in protest when friends, family, colleagues or the media display false beliefs and negative stereotypes don’t discriminate when it comes to participation, housing and employment

when it comes to participation, housing and employment Talk openly about your own experience of mental illness. The more hidden and unspoken the mental illness remains, the more people continue to believe that it is shameful and needs to be concealed.