Stigma Of Mental Illnesses

People who have mental illnesses deal with stigma every day of their lives. The stigma that comes with having a mental illness prevents a vast majority of people to integrate into society successfully. The stigma that comes with a mental illness is people believing that those who have a mental illness are dangerous and incapable of doing every say tasks that someone who has no mental illness could do. Americans with mental illnesses find it difficult to find jobs, and being with friends and family due to the stigma. The best way to keep from people making bold accusations for those with mental illnesses is to have people be educated on what mental illnesses are, and how they actually effect people. Stigma is an abstract construct that society …show more content…
In the psychological profession, however, malingering is defined as “Malingering is the intentional production of false or grossly exaggerated physical or psychological symptoms, motivated by external incentives” As part of the stigma that coincides with mental illness, the thought of those with a mental illness is thought to malinger. The accused malingerers are said to be falsifying a mental illness, although malingering is always possible, it is not a common thing. The stigma on mental health started around the time that Christianity was emerging. The major religions equated the way that those with mental illnesses acted with being possessed, and filled with sin. This caused the people of mental illnesses to be seen as dangerous. In modern times those with a mental illness are still seen as harmful and unsteady. They are seen as people who could hurt someone, or themselves. Those who are uneducated on the subject of a mental illness, believe that if they do not tip toe around those with mental illnesses then they will be …show more content…
It should be said that a lack of education on any matter regarding the health of another person could cause a major stigma. There are many ways to become educated on the matter of mental illnesses. The internet is at one’s disposable at almost any given time. There are also many organizations, such as NAMI that help to educate people. The thought that people with mental illnesses are malingering can also be pin pointed down to a lack of knowledge on the matter. Although malingering a terrible thing, pretending to be someone with a mental illness is something that is not accepted. There are a select few of people who do this. Even so, it does not mean that all with mental illnesses are, in fact, malingering. With the knowledge above, it is clear that there must be something done about the stigma that goes along with having mental illnesses. There are many ways we could get rid of stigma, although the way that would be best, is to be educated on the matter. There are plenty of ways to become educated on the matter, and it would be very easy to