All About Stigma

What is Stigma?

Stigma is a mark of disgrace with some person, quality, or circumstance

 

 

Stigma Facts

3 out of 4 people with a mental illness have experience stigma.

Stigma is a mark of disgrace that sets a person apart from others.

Negative attitudes and beliefs toward a person or a group

 

Effects of the Stigma

Shame, blame, hopelessness, distress, secrecy, loneliness

 

 

Stigma Cycle in Negative ways

Prejudice and bias - discrimination - stereotyping

 

 

9 Ways to Break the Stigma Cycle

1. Talk - become a voice against mental illness stigma

2. Educate -  challenge yourself and others about the stereotype of stigma

3. Be conscious - watch your language and be nice

4. Encourage - equality in the perception of mental health

5. Empathize - with those living with a mental health condition

6. Interact - stop the criminalization of those who live with mental illness

7. Protest - push back against stigma

8. Appreciate - see the person, not the illness

9. Advocate - support mental health reform

 

Watch your language

people are not defined by an illness. They have many characteristics beyond a stigmatized illness.

 

 

Say this, instead of this.

A person with depression,  a depressive

A person with schizophrenia, a schizophrenic

A person with heroin use disorder, a heroin addict

I have bipolar disorder, I am bipolar

 

 

 

My last word is that anyone can suffer from the stigma. It could be my friends or family. So please don't blame them, but just talk and help them. **