Racial Discriminiation

A few weeks back, I posted some information on mental illness stigma, and said I would continue to write on the topic as I found time. As I researched information for this post, I thought I should give a definition for ‘stigma’ (even if most people are aware of it):

http://www.mentalhealth.wa.gov.au/mental_illness_and_health/mh_stigma.aspx

“What is stigma?

Three out of four people with a mental illness report that they have experienced stigma. Stigma is a mark of disgrace that sets a person apart. When a person is labelled by their illness they are seen as part of a stereotyped group. Negative attitudes create prejudice which leads to negative actions and discrimination.”

This definition, I think, gives a good understanding of stigma in general and specifically the stigma associated with mental illness. The rest of the article this quote was taken from also gives a more in-depth look into the subject. Much of the information I gathered after my previous post I found a little saddening, though enlightening. I found many, many articles on depression, and even suicide, but not as many including other illnesses. Perhaps that has to do with what some articles I read stated: many people can relate to feelings of sadness and depression, but many may not relate to symptoms associated with other mental illnesses. Perhaps not, I do not know for sure.

I stopped watching television a few years back, but several weeks ago I happened to catch a minute of what my mom had her TV tuned in to. It was a horrible, stereotypical episode of a popular show from the 70’s (that I’ve seen many times) depicting mental illness as something to laugh about and ridicule. Now, as awful as that was, I was not that shocked given the decade the show was produced. But, as we have come so far in knowledge and understanding of medical and mental health conditions, that is why I was shocked when I continued to see programs produced like this within the past few years.

“Inaccurate portrayals of mental illness in the media are going to happen. After all, the goal is to entertain people, not teach them.

However, the media affects public perception. It is important for us to distinguish between media sensationalism and mundane reality.

The mundane reality is that mentally ill people are not unusually violent, broken, gifted, or entertaining. Getting sick is something that happens to everyone, and since our bodies and minds are linked and not separate, mental illness is no more sensational than physical sickness.

So if you or a friend is experiencing mental illness, avoid looking to media representations to educate yourself.” (http://everydayfeminism.com/2012/12/mental-illness-stigma/)

As this article points out, we should not look to media interpretations of mental illness to form our opinions. They are not in business to care about or educate people. They are in business to make a profit and entertain. Unfortunately, as the article also states, many people do indeed take their ideas from different forms of media (whether consciously or subconsciously). So, we need to be aware of that.

Stigma is not limited to media outlets, though. Many mental health professionals hold the same ideologies and opinions. I remember sitting on a jury and the ‘expert’ psychiatrist witness gave testimony about someone being “crazy as a loon” (to which, the courtroom broke out in laughter). So, we may have a long way to go even in that realm. It may be difficult for some people to overcome stereotypes they have held for a long time, so I like what I read in this particular article about educating children at an early age on mental health: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/09/01/mental-health-lessons-cuts-illness-stigma. It makes a lot of sense to me.

And, more is being done on other fronts, such as mental illness stigma in the military, appropriate language, and young adult education:

“Free Teleconference on Military Stigma

The ADS Center of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will hold a teleconference on “Mental Health for Military Families” on Tuesday, August 3, at 3 p.m. ET.

Military mental health was a major topic at NAMI’s recent national convention.

In an opening speech, U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy declared, “Every day in America, our military veterans are being held behind enemy lines.”…

“We’re only going to see great progress when the civilian community starts paying attention,” said Tom Tarantino, legislative associate for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA).
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Language: Let’s Keep Talking

There has been a great response to the last alert’s notice about SAMHSA’s dialogue on words used — or avoided — in the mental health community. Some may be stigmatizing. Other terms may lack clear definition…

NAMI soon will launch its own language listserv to promote broader interactive discussion. Watch for more information in the months ahead.
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Americorps Superheroes Stomp Stigma

StigmaBusters Mary Flanagan and Liz Reich, Americorps volunteers who work in a peer support center in Oregon, have produced a mini-documentary that portrays StigmaBusters as superheroes.

It’s now posted on YouTube and is serious, yet quirky and funny. The film also features clients of the center reaching out especially to “tweens and teens,” a key target audience for public education.

They have received local media coverage and honors.

NAMI suspects they’ll eventually make even greater contributions to our movement…” (NAMI StigmaBusters Archive)

Streetyoga.org

To conclude this rather long post, I wanted to share a link of a great organization I received yoga training from. Street Yoga offers “hands-on practice in teaching yoga & mindfulness to youth and families struggling with homelessness, poverty, abuse, addiction, trauma, and neurological & psychiatric issues.” They are doing awesome work, so please check them out.

I didn’t have time to include everything I’ve researched, so here is a list of several other articles you may find helpful or interesting on this topic:

http://sunpatriot.com/2014/09/05/nami-an-excellent-resource-for-information-on-mental-illness/

http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/commentary/article/Time-to-end-stigma-of-mental-illness-5686846.php

http://news.sky.com/story/1319070/sinead-oconnor-mentally-ill-treated-like-dirt

http://www.mind.org.uk

http://www.toledofreepress.com/2014/08/25/hays-battling-the-stigma-of-mental-health-issues/

http://www.ulifeline.org/articles/423-overcoming-stigma

http://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/tvshowblog/diagnosis-and-stigma-of-living-with-dissociative-identity-disorder-did/

http://www.healthyplace.com/stigma/stand-up-for-mental-health/stigma-and-discrimination-the-effect-of-stigma/

http://peel.cmha.ca/mental_health/stigma-and-discrimination/#.VA3LTWK9KSN

http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/mental_health/

http://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/are-you-guilty-of-stigmatizing-the-mentally-ill.aspx

http://www.nhsconfed.org/resources/2012/05/race-equality-in-mental-health