The Stigma of Mental Illness

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Those who suffer from mental illnesses have many things to deal with. The social perceptions surrounding mental health can be some of the worst. The stigmas associated with mental illness are often the hardest thing for patients to come to grips with, and the anxiety caused by the attitudes of those around them can propel the afflicted into depression or worse.

Recently, Sarah Martin, a dental assistant in Arizona, was awarded the Recovery Award at the Daniel Moreno Awards Dinner in Tucson for her contributions in raising awareness about mental illness. Martin has bipolar disorder and has not been afraid to talk about it publicly.

Others struggle daily with the looks and comments people often give when made aware of a person's mental issues. Carl, who suffers adult attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), lives in Colorado and rarely talks about his condition with anyone.

"Most people I've told don't believe me, at least at first. One off-duty cop even said I was just claiming that so I could get pills with street value to sell. I mostly keep it to myself. It is easier that way."

He's not alone. Two others I've talked to feel the same way about their conditions and the perceptions people around them may have.

"I often slip and tell people what's wrong with me," says Kathy in Wyoming. "Most of them, especially men, find it unbelievable that a woman veteran can have PTSD."

Shawna in New York, who suffers from bipolar and chronic fatigue, agrees.

"I hate telling people about it," she says. "When I do, they often seem antsy like they think I'm going to flip out and attack them or something. One former friend even stopped bringing her children over for play dates when she found out. Even if I tell them that I'm on medication and have not had serious episodes in years, people usually treat me differently after they've found out about my condition."

The stigma is, sadly, widespread and will not easily be eradicated. It centers largely on misinformation and stereotyping from the past. Before medications and treatments were readily available, people with mental health issues were often locked away like criminals or labeled "lunatic" and shunned by society. Without strong advocacy and public awareness, this is not likely to change.

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