The Impacts of Stigma and Discrimination on People with Schizophrenia
Approximately one in five New Zealanders will experience a diagnosable mental condition in any given year (Ministry of Health and Health Promotion Agency, 2014). Contrary to this, despite the commonality of mental illness it is incredibly stigmatised. This can have extremely adverse implications on a person’s recovery.
Ill mental health can be described as a condition that causes serious disorders in a person’s behaviour or thinking (Szabo, 2014). Schizophrenia is one mental illness in particular that has a serious impact on the way people think. It is a relatively rare disorder that affects around 1% of the population (Golightley, 2008). Schizophrenia is largely characterised …show more content…
This is a prominent example of stigma, and discrimination is a common threat to people suffering from schizophrenia. Of all mental illness, schizophrenia seems to be the most stigmatised condition (Schulze & Angermeyer, 2003). While other mental illnesses such as eating disorders, anxiety and depression have gained an increased public awareness and interest, schizophrenia has not. Therefore, it is still associated with negative stereotypes such as violence, unpredictability and danger (Schulze & Angermeyer, 2003). Furthermore, people with schizophrenia are often viewed more negatively than those who suffer from anxiety or depression (Schulze & Angermeyer, 2003). For example, many people with schizophrenia report being treated as less competent than people who are not mentally unwell or who have experiences with other mental illness, and in some cases, they are avoided entirely (Wood, Birtel, Alsawy, Pyle, & Morrison, 2014) Another pressing issue that faces people with schizophrenia is that they are not only less likely to find employment, they often earn less when they do work (reference). Additionally, difficulties that people with schizophrenia often face is problems with landlords; some even get evicted when their illness is discovered (Wood et al.,
Approximately one in five New Zealanders will experience a diagnosable mental condition in any given year (Ministry of Health and Health Promotion Agency, 2014). Contrary to this, despite the commonality of mental illness it is incredibly stigmatised. This can have extremely adverse implications on a person’s recovery.
Ill mental health can be described as a condition that causes serious disorders in a person’s behaviour or thinking (Szabo, 2014). Schizophrenia is one mental illness in particular that has a serious impact on the way people think. It is a relatively rare disorder that affects around 1% of the population (Golightley, 2008). Schizophrenia is largely characterised …show more content…
This is a prominent example of stigma, and discrimination is a common threat to people suffering from schizophrenia. Of all mental illness, schizophrenia seems to be the most stigmatised condition (Schulze & Angermeyer, 2003). While other mental illnesses such as eating disorders, anxiety and depression have gained an increased public awareness and interest, schizophrenia has not. Therefore, it is still associated with negative stereotypes such as violence, unpredictability and danger (Schulze & Angermeyer, 2003). Furthermore, people with schizophrenia are often viewed more negatively than those who suffer from anxiety or depression (Schulze & Angermeyer, 2003). For example, many people with schizophrenia report being treated as less competent than people who are not mentally unwell or who have experiences with other mental illness, and in some cases, they are avoided entirely (Wood, Birtel, Alsawy, Pyle, & Morrison, 2014) Another pressing issue that faces people with schizophrenia is that they are not only less likely to find employment, they often earn less when they do work (reference). Additionally, difficulties that people with schizophrenia often face is problems with landlords; some even get evicted when their illness is discovered (Wood et al.,