What is stigma?

Stigma, according to the Encarta Dictionary, is “the shame or disgrace attached to something regarded as socially unacceptable.”

Some shame and disgrace serves a social function. For example, the shame and disgrace associated with committing murder may act as a deterrent.

Other shame and disgrace, including the shame and disgrace experienced by people living with mental illness, does not serve society or its citizens.

A recent UK study looked at the stigmatisation of people with a range of mental disorders: severe depression, panic attacks, schizophrenia, dementia, eating disorders, alcoholism and drug addiction. The researchers found that negative opinions about people with mental disorders “indiscriminately overemphasise” their social difficulties, and thus add to them.

The study also found that, “Respondents commonly perceived people with schizophrenia, alcoholism and drug addiction as unpredictable and dangerous. The two latter conditions were also viewed as self-inflicted. People with any of the seven disorders were perceived as hard to talk with.”

Sometimes, people with a mental illness do act oddly. However, the “shame and disgrace” associated with mental illness is often based on mistaken ideas about what mental illness is, how it affects behaviour, and a person’s prospects for recovery.

What are some of the consequences of stigma?

• Rejection;
• Discrimination;
• A failure to take the concerns of the person with a mental illness seriously, including concerns about physical health;
• People suffering from mental ill-health are less likely to seek treatment, or delay seeking treatment until their mental health has deteriorated significantly;
• People suffering from mental ill-health are less likely to seek the support they need from family, friends, colleagues and employers;
• Presenteeism (being at work but performing poorly), as people attempt to “soldier on” without acknowledging that they are suffering;
• Everyone thinks that they’re suffering alone, because few people are willing to publicly acknowledge having mental health difficulties;
• The burden of mental illness becomes heavier; and
• Potentially productive workers are excluded from the workforce.

How might stigma manifest in the workplace?

• An organisation may be unwilling to hire people who acknowledge suffering from a mental illness.
• People might make jokes, or use words that some people with a mental illness find alienating, words like “psycho”, “schizo” and “crazy”.
• Workers who are known to have a mental illness might be treated differently from other workers—for example, a worker with depression who makes a workers’ compensation claim.
• “Just pull yourself together and get on with it,” could be the attitude expressed to workers who seem to be experiencing difficulties.

How can we combat stigma?

• Learn about mental illness, and look beyond stereotypes.
• Do not let misinformed comments about mental illness slide. For example, it is a myth that people with mental illness are prone to violence. Challenge myths.
• Raise awareness of public figures who have suffered from mental health difficulties. Positive role models are good, and it may be helpful to simply know that other people have had similar experiences.
• Give people the flexibility they need in order to look after their mental health.
• Employee people with mental illness--nothing kills stigma like the discovery that a person with a mental illness is an ordinary person.
• Promote the idea that people DO RECOVER from mental illness. Put a face on recovery. Get someone to come and talk to your employees.
•  Take advantage of existing resources—for example Beyond Blue.
• Watch your words: “just pull yourself together” “you’ll get over it” might come from a good place but they show considerable disrespect for the experience of the person suffering from the mental illness—and they don’t help.
• Invest in workplace health and wellbeing.