We've all heard about "Self-Fulfilling prophecies", the idea that the more you talk about something the likelier it is to happen.
In fact, a lot of our vocabulary has changed in the past 20 or so years in order to perceive things more positively. We talk about mental "health" instead of mental "illness", "health centres" as opposed to "hospitals", and "challenges" have replaced "problems".
When used in the context of making things seem less difficult, I find this to be fine.
Where I have a harder time though is those situations for which we choose to keep negative vocabulary because we simply do not want to put a positive spin on something.
The main one is the word "stigma" when reference to mental (interestingly enough here we say) "illness".
The biggest irony is that practically everyone would agree that the stigma of mental illness is negative, and something we need to eliminate. If that's the case, why do we keep referring to it?
My "theory" is that we (as a society, perhaps even as a species) are so fearful of mental illness (especially in men because the idea of the "hunter / gatherer / provider" not being able to function is absolutely inconceivable), that we continue to refer to a "stigma"; that way we don't have to address it.
By continuing to call mentall illness "stigmatized", we re-inforce the stigma!!!
Are we willing to talk about mental illness the same way we do diabetes, cancer, and heart disease?
Do we have the courage to face mental illness, admit that it can cripple (or is it "challenge") any one of us, and that just like many other diseases, it does not discriminate on age, gender, race, or anything else?
Showing posts with label Stigma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stigma. Show all posts
Monday, March 15, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Stigma (continued)
Back on December 7th 2009 I wrote about the use of the term "stigma" in relation to mental illness (specifically depression), and how it's a euphemism for "shame", but sounds much better.
Today I would like to further the topic of the use of the term "stigma", and how it relates to other facets of depression.
Numerous articles and publications suggest that depression manifests itself differently in men and women adding that "Male Depression contains an extra stigma" (IE. Cultural gender bias). Once again, the word "stigma" sounds better to the ear. Synonyms of "stigma" in this context can include: "gender bias", "unfair disadvantage", and "inequality". Use of these terms (for male depression) would never be accepted.
Another part of mental illness and depression which is stigmatized is compliance (The word adherence can also be used). Compliance is defined as "The degree to which patients follow the medical recommendations of practitioners."
Compliance of mental illness and depression medications is judged much more severely than any other conditions. The person with lung cancer or emphysema who continues smoking, the person with high blood pressure who continues to drink heavily, not get regular exercise, continue eating a high fat diet, even not take their medication will likely get reprimanded, but they will not be portrayed as "weak-willed", or "just not wanting to help themselves".
Also, the idea that psychiatric medications are "more important" than medications for other conditions is false. The diabetic who misses his insulin is at much higher risk than the depressive who misses his anti-depressive medication or even the schizophrenic who misses his lithium.
Today I would like to further the topic of the use of the term "stigma", and how it relates to other facets of depression.
Numerous articles and publications suggest that depression manifests itself differently in men and women adding that "Male Depression contains an extra stigma" (IE. Cultural gender bias). Once again, the word "stigma" sounds better to the ear. Synonyms of "stigma" in this context can include: "gender bias", "unfair disadvantage", and "inequality". Use of these terms (for male depression) would never be accepted.
Another part of mental illness and depression which is stigmatized is compliance (The word adherence can also be used). Compliance is defined as "The degree to which patients follow the medical recommendations of practitioners."
Compliance of mental illness and depression medications is judged much more severely than any other conditions. The person with lung cancer or emphysema who continues smoking, the person with high blood pressure who continues to drink heavily, not get regular exercise, continue eating a high fat diet, even not take their medication will likely get reprimanded, but they will not be portrayed as "weak-willed", or "just not wanting to help themselves".
Also, the idea that psychiatric medications are "more important" than medications for other conditions is false. The diabetic who misses his insulin is at much higher risk than the depressive who misses his anti-depressive medication or even the schizophrenic who misses his lithium.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Stigma
Dictionary definition of stigma:
1. A mark of disgrace or infamy; as on one reputation.
Medical:
2. A mental or physical mark that is characteristic or a defect or disease.
Disgrace, infamy, is that what we think of when referring to mental illness being "stigmatized"? No, rather it is presented in the form of "ignorance". "Mental illness is stigmatized because people are ignorant of it's forms and symptoms".
The word "stigma" in it's current usage is actually a euphemism for "shame". We (the general feeling) feel SHAME for anyone with mental illness, but don't have the courage to say it as such.
In fact, the current use of the word "stigma" even subtly suggests that the "stigmatized" (IE. Mentally Ill person) is at fault. "Others don't understand you, but you're the one who needs change". What about these "others who don't understand" educating themselves!
I don't understand what diabetics, or cancer patients go through on a daily basis, does that make them "stigmatized", or me ignorant? The same applies to mental illness, when someone does not understand it, the sufferer is not "stigmatized", the first person is simply ignorant. So just as it is up to me to educate myself about diabetes and cancer, it is up to them to educate themselves about mental illness.
Reality is that mental illness is still seen as shameful. Like most everything else in today's world, people have come up with softer terms (in this case "stigma") in order to make unacceptable beliefs acceptable.
1. A mark of disgrace or infamy; as on one reputation.
Medical:
2. A mental or physical mark that is characteristic or a defect or disease.
Disgrace, infamy, is that what we think of when referring to mental illness being "stigmatized"? No, rather it is presented in the form of "ignorance". "Mental illness is stigmatized because people are ignorant of it's forms and symptoms".
The word "stigma" in it's current usage is actually a euphemism for "shame". We (the general feeling) feel SHAME for anyone with mental illness, but don't have the courage to say it as such.
In fact, the current use of the word "stigma" even subtly suggests that the "stigmatized" (IE. Mentally Ill person) is at fault. "Others don't understand you, but you're the one who needs change". What about these "others who don't understand" educating themselves!
I don't understand what diabetics, or cancer patients go through on a daily basis, does that make them "stigmatized", or me ignorant? The same applies to mental illness, when someone does not understand it, the sufferer is not "stigmatized", the first person is simply ignorant. So just as it is up to me to educate myself about diabetes and cancer, it is up to them to educate themselves about mental illness.
Reality is that mental illness is still seen as shameful. Like most everything else in today's world, people have come up with softer terms (in this case "stigma") in order to make unacceptable beliefs acceptable.
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