Dr. AJAZ AHMAD SUHAFF
Mental health is a major concern that affects all age groups worldwide, yet it is one of the least discussed subjects. According to World Health Organization (W.H.O) mental disorder is characterized by a clinically significant disturbance in an individual’s cognition, emotional regulation, or behaviour which can lead to impairment in socio-occupational functioning.
In 2019, 1 in every 8 people, or 970 million people around the world were living with a mental disorder, with anxiety and depressive disorders the most common and the count is still rising.
Statistics indicate that one in every five teens has some type of mental health problem in any given year. The problems range from mild to severe. Unfortunately, suicide is the third leading cause of death among teens.
In addition to social and economic burden, the lack of understanding or awareness particularly the stigma associated with those living with mental illnesses makes it living with mental illnesses very difficult.
Stigma can lead to discrimination about mental illness or your treatment. People become judgmental about person with mental illnesses, they assume that these patients could be unstable, violent or dangerous.Not only common people even some mental health professionals have negative beliefs about the people they care for.
Other reasons for this prejudice towards mental health is portraying inaccurate stereotypes about people with a mental illness in media, movies etc. As a result of this discrimination people with mental illnesses becomes distressed and which in turn can exacerbate their illness. This will affect their life, illness and management.
Harmful Effects of Stigma
• Persons with mental illnesses will be reluctance to seek help or treatment.
• It can lead to lack of understanding by family, friends, co-workers etc.
• It might create a trouble in finding job, or enrolment in school or finding housing.
• Persons with mental illnesses can be victim of bullying, physical violence or harassment.
How to deal with stigma
Change your mind and get yourself treated
Change is an inevitable ongoing process in society since its very beginning. People undergo changes in their whole lives involving various aspects including their attitudes, opinions, behaviour etc.
Believe in yourself.
Always avoid people who discriminate persons with mental illnesses.
Learn about your illness and make other people aware about that.
Stop people who give misinformation about mental illnesses. Tell your story (if you want).
Consider mental health as physical health and mental illnesses as physical illnesses.
It is very essential to give importance to mental health as physical health. People should give societal acceptance to mental health in the same way that physical illnesses have. But it is a fact that this change doesn’t come easily. In real sense it is a challenge for persons with mental illnesses, their caregivers and mental health professionals.
Be positive as good mental health leads to positive self-image and in turn, satisfying relationships with friends and others.
Providing education to the people should be a priority.
When people are educated, their minds tend to be enlightened which helps in stimulating some new perspectives towards the stigma.
Get support from your family, friends, relatives and mental health professionals.
When dealing with mental health or emotional problems, it’s important not to go at it alone. Reach out to people you trust for the compassion, support and understanding you need.
Get access to modern technologies.
Such as internet, social/print media etc, which helps people to know the mental health problems from different perspective.
Get factual information from the person who recovered from mental illness.
The information from the recovered person with mental illness can create powerful impact on the patients and their families to motivate them to undergo treatment.
Role of Family members.
It had been found that, the more aware the family members of the patient are, the more they try to persuade the patient to seek treatment.
People should understand that to be healthy physically they should give utmost importance to their mental health as well. It is very important for all the stake holders to change our attitude and our perspective about mental health which can make the difference and can play significant role in bringing down the alarming rate of mental illnesses.
The most important thing is to ‘speak out against stigma’. People should use every type of media to speak out against this menace which in turn can help instill courage in others facing similar challenges and educate the public about mental illness.
