Self Stigma Research Paper

Corrigan, P. a. (2002). Understanding the Impact of Stigma on people with Mental Illness. World Psychiatry , 1 (1), 16-20.

Some people feel that when diagnosed with a mental illness they are being labelled into a category they are seen as mentally ill instead of them having a mental illness unfortunately there are so many negative stereotypes which are pinned with mental illness, according to the labelling theory it’s the thought of a person being labelled mentally ill which can cause you to be ill mentally as a result of its effects described as a self-fulfilling prophecy according to a modified version of this theory. There are assumptions about the negative impact on self-concept, this impact is described in later research about stigma and self-stigma, stigma can have some negative results for self-concept by lowing self-efficacy which can make impaired coping

Throughout the many years, there have been many negative public perceptions of Schizophrenia, which is known by majority of the public as an indication of mental illness. This disorder is most of the time perceived by the public as caused by psychological factors. People with this mental illness are considered to be unpredictable and threatening (Angermeyer & Matschinger, 2003, p. 526). Most patients have a behavioural dysfunction. Victims, families and society carry a substantial burden due to this illness (Wood & Freedman, 2003).

The stigma of mental illness can sometimes make people feel embarrassed to be around, or to just stay as far away from people who suffer with such illness. In two studies in the UK with a ten year gap there was little change recorded in the statistics, ”over 80% endorsing the statement that “most people are embarrassed by mentally ill people”, and about 30% agreeing “I am embarrassed by mentally ill persons”’ (Huxley 1993). One such label to label such people is maniaphobia which means the fear of being mentally ill and the mentally ill which in some extreme cases could explain their situation and their possible fear. Which makes the peoples who are mentally ill or have mental illness are less likely to tell close family and friends which could help them understand their situation better. As well as help them get treatments or a diagnosis to help with peace of mind. Sometimes they are told but refuse to believe that such things exist or that they are weaker than others or selfish. The mentally ill sometimes stigmatize themselves, “there are numerous personal accounts of psychiatric illness, where shame overrides even the most extreme of symptoms,” (Peter Byrne). They feel like people won’t accept them or that they are somehow different so they lock it away and sometimes don’t

Psychiatrist D. Fuller Torrey, M.D., states Schizophrenia is the “modern-day equivalent of leprosy” (qtd: in Tartakovsky, 2014). There are harsh stereotypes surrounding those affected such as a higher level of danger, universal symptoms, predetermined traits, a need for hospitalization, and even, put simply by Demian Rose, M.D., Ph. D., a belief Schizophrenics are either psychotics or not. (Tartakovsky, 2014). These stigmas lead to extremely detrimental effects such as, more homeless sufferers, less job opportunities, a lower quality of life, lower self esteem, higher stress levels, and more symptoms (Corrigan, 1998). Like most problems, these stigmas could be corrected with a fairly basic understanding of Schizophrenia and how it affects its sufferers.

While stigma may not necessarily be a cause of a person’s mental disorder, it can certainly contribute to the complication and perpetuation of their illness. The effect of stigma goes well beyond just the patient and provides a commentary on society’s overall level of intolerance of those who are considered different from the majority. By recognizing the level of stigma that exists, perhaps we can alter that behavior and gravitate towards a more productive attitude towards mental illness.

Stigma surrounds mental illness even in contemporary society. Research has aimed to reduce this. World Health Organisation (WHO; 2012) have stated that such stigma is a “hidden human rights emergency”.

How does stigma affect personal life goals? Stigma is found in two different forms, public and self-stigma. Public stigma can be described as stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination. Common stereotypes about mental illness include blame, dangerousness and incompetence (Corrigan, Larosn, & Ruesch, 2009). The forms of public stigma cause a chain reaction leading to a loss of opportunities, coercion and segregation for people with mental illness. Self-stigma is defined as a devaluation of the self by internalizing negative stereotypes they attribute to themselves and attributed to them from external sources (Shrivastava, Johnston & Bureau, 2012). Self-stigma is a huge contribution to adherence to treatment for mental health patients and negatively impacts the ability to fully achieve goals. Patients that internalize negative stereotypes, self-stigma, have the attitude of “why try.”

In 1968 the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) updated the definition of schizophrenia to include hostility, aggressiveness, and lack of acceptance of oneself. The next social, or cultural influence is that of stigma against mental illness in our daily lives. These attitudes play on decisions made in our lives that affect the larger world. In a recent poll released by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) finds misconceptions to be prominent by American society. “Slightly more than 70 percent of those surveyed would be afraid for their own safety around a person who has not received treatment for schizophrenia, and 21 percent would be afraid for their own safety around a person who had been treated for the disorder, according to the results” (American Psychiatric Association, 2011).

Even though social explanations were considered the highest cause, there was more stigma attached to biological causes and led to social distance due to them having a ‘lack of willpower’ and ‘control’. In 2001, Corrigan et al conducted a study testing a model which described stigma and how the outcomes affect those suffering from a mental illness. The model was to test familiarity and how this influences their fear through a representative population

''There's a tremendous need to implode the myths of mental illness, to put a face on it, to show people that a diagnosis does not have to lead to a painful and oblique life.” Those are the words of Elyn R. Sacs, a successful woman who happens to carry a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Mental illness has been plagued by stigma and misunderstanding throughout history, due to a lack of necessary research by professionals as well as a lack of education for the public. The disorders which face the most stigma, both historically and in present times, are the more severe afflictions such as schizophrenia or personality disorders. However, as time passes, more information becomes known about these disorders, and thus our perspective of them becomes a

People with mental illness are experiencing a lot of stigma and judgment from the society, they are judged for not being able to fit into their societal roles. Schizophrenia is one form of mental illness that is not as often researched or understood as other mental illness such as depression or anxiety disorder. Individuals that are diagnosed with schizophrenia in our society are dealing with a lot of prejudice and discrimination, which causes them to distant themselves from society. Stigma imposed by societal norms can affect the social identity of individuals with mental illness; this can be seen by the example of individuals with schizophrenia.

Stigma has been said to be “a feeling of being negatively differentiated owing to a particular condition, group membership or state in life”(Arboleda-Florez & Stuart, 2012, p. 458). There are typically two types of mental illness stigma that are discussed. Public stigma, also known as societal stigma, is the stigma associated with the prejudicial attitudes the public holds towards those people who suffer from mental illness (Arboleda-Florez & Stuart, 2012; Corrigan, Markowitz, Watson, Rowan & Kubiak, 2003). Self-stigma, also known as internalized stigma, is the loss of self-esteem, withdrawal, and personal shame that some with mental illness will experience. Self-stigma is usually developed when those who suffer from mental illness associate the negative stereotypes the public holds with themselves (Chronister, Chou, & Lieo, 2013; Corrigan et al., 2003).

Within the past two decades there’s been a revival in efforts to reduce stigmatization attached to mental illnesses. It was concluded that if mental illnesses were perceived better as ‘real’ diseases by the public that stigma would go down greatly. Reports proposed the idea that better scientific understanding of mental illnesses by the general public could greatly reduce stigma. Stigma is intensely rooted in social and cultural norms it’s patterns devalue and dehumanize groups of individuals within society (in this case mentally ill people). Stigma constructs barriers for individuals, barriers that limit a person’s abilities to have equal opportunities for employment, safe housing, health care and social relationships.Efforts to reduce stigma in recent years have

Mental health and its stigma are an important issue plaguing today’s society. Many do not understand or acknowledge the severity of mental illness. The stigma against mental