Stigma & Mental Health

I’ve always been interested in stigma about mental health and what can be done about it. Why? Stigma prevents people from seeking services that can be truly helpful.

Stigma, by definition, refers to disgrace, disdain, or defect. In terms of mental health, stigma lives such in beliefs as:

• “I’m not going to therapy – that’s for ‘crazy’ people.”
• “I should be able to figure out problems on my own.”
• “Going to therapy means you’re weak.”

Current stigma may have its roots in mental health history. It’s not that long ago that mental health was associated with asylums, madness, and demons, with ‘cures’ that were barbaric, cruel, and punishing. Beliefs of the day were born out of little understanding of mental health, which led to fear and efforts to distance oneself from what was seen as ‘crazy.’

Today we know so much more and we’ve made incredible advances in understanding and treating mental health difficulties. Beliefs, however, tend to persist over time to the degree they remain unquestioned.

I argue that mental health – and illness – is a normal part of human experience, similar in many ways to physical health, which has long been accepted. Consider the similarities in the chart below.

Physical Health

Physical Health on a Continuum:

• We may experience good physical health, poor physical health, or anything in between at any given time.

Features:

• Bones, muscle, organs, & numerous functions of the body

Reasons for physical health difficulties:

• Inherited vulnerabilities that put us at increased risk for certain physical illnesses
• Poor diet & nutrition
• Lack of exercise
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Excessive & persistent stress that overwhelms the body
• Accident, injury, or exposure to environmental hazards that lead to illness (virus, bacteria, toxins, contaminants)
• Practices that can increase risk for physical health difficulties: smoking, ‘junk food’ diets or overeating, misuse of substances, including prescription drugs.

Promoting good physical health (or managing illness):

• Over-the-counter remedies (e.g. aspirin, cold or allergy medication)
• Check-ups
• Seeking doctor advice when feeling poorly
• Health education

Mental Health

Mental Health on a Continuum:

• We may experience good mental health, poor mental health, or anything in between at any given time.

Features:

• Thoughts, feelings, behaviors & numerous functions of the mind

Reasons for mental health difficulties:

• Inherited vulnerabilities that put us at increased risk for certain mental health difficulties
• Inadequate or ineffective coping for managing events, emotions, impulses
• Unhealthy beliefs, traumatic events, abuses, losses
• Excessive & persistent stress that leaves us overwhelmed, confused, indecisive, or immobile.
• Medical illnesses
• New challenges for which we lack knowledge or skills
• Practices that can increase risk for mental health difficulties: misuse of medications, misuse of substances, inappropriate risk-taking

Promoting good mental health (or managing illness):

• Do you recognize signs/symptoms of common mental health problems?
• Do you believe there is effective treatment for mental health?
• Would you seek the help of a qualified professional?
• Does mental health stigma stand in your way?

Stigma about mental health can be fueled by misunderstanding. How much do you know about mental health? Start separating myth from fact by taking the following short quiz from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/quiz/index.htm

Call me today to discuss stigma or other concerns that may be preventing you from seeking services that can be truly helpful.

– Dr. Judith Carney, PsyD