Importance Of Mental Health Stigma
One of the most common reasons that stigma is an issue is the lack of knowledge surrounding the topic, the attitude of the community towards mental illness, behavior displayed to those who are struggling, as well as the bias and prejudice given to those same people. Prejudice, “any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable.” (dictionary) often stirs up emotional responses such as fear or anger towards the people who are being stigmatised. Similar to saying that, having a specific amount of knowledge about mental illness or lack thereof, affects the way a person might respond. Oftentimes, people stigmatise those with a mental illness because, “...society marginalizes people who are different or they may blame them.” (Saks) In other words, society is telling the community that those who are struggling with a mental illness are at fault or that they are the people that are different. Another thing that many people don’t realize is that mental illness isn’t something that you can just “will away.” When a community or members of a community push mental illness aside with comments like, “you’ll be fine,” “it’s just a phase,” and “they’re just being moody,” It can push those struggling to refute help.…