Stigmatization around Mental Illnesses
According to William Styron in his book ‘Darkness Visible,’ people with the mental condition oftentimes face stigma where they are treated differently from other people as if they are less than other people. Stigmatization around people with mental illness is highly evident when they are regarded as dangerous, crazy, and rather incompetent without examining their condition. Branding names to people with mental illnesses only fuels them to turn into victims of bullying and violence. As victims of stigmatization, people with mental disorders can miss out on various life experiences around them, which can worsen their mental conditions. The book further sheds light on why stigmatization around mental illnesses is prevalent. Many people do not understand mental illnesses and the disturbing experiences mentally ill people go through. Surprisingly, even mental health professionals have been pointed out as perpetrators of mental illness stigmatization.
Mentally ill people are expected to snap out of their mental conditions by sheer willpower magically. They are often harassed and mocked to get out of their embarrassing conditions as they eare accused of being lazy and lethargic. On the contrary, the mentally ill require competent professional help from a licensed therapist to help them out of the rabbit hole. Early diagnosis and intervention are essential for professionals to commence the needed medication to help out an ailing mental patient. In addition to the high depression accustomed to mental conditions, most patients also feel excluded from various social interactions where nobody seems to understand them. Sometimes, the depression that mentally ill people experience may lead to suicidal tendencies. William Styron writes in his book Darkness Visible how severe depression is unimaginable to those who are yet to suffer it. He says that the victims can no longer bear the anguish, and suicide seems like the go-to option in most cases. He suggests that general awareness of mental illnesses can prevent hthe occurrence of many suicides involved with mental illness patients.
While society vehemently blames mentally ill people for being selfish and uncaring when considering suicide, they disregard their excruciating experiences with depression and anxiety. Walking in the mentally ill people’s shoes can help people understand them and know the most suitable action to take, one that serves to improve the general well-being of the victims. Lifting the mentally ill stigma will encourage more of them to seek help from trained professionals before their condition gets worse to an unmanageable critical stage. One of the effective ways to fight mental illness stigma is to foster a positive attitude and eliminate negative mental health attitudes. In a society where mental health is disregarded, we should change our perspectives and regard mental health with equal importance to physical health. Depression and anxiety is not something that a person chooses to have. Therefore, managing mental conditions should not be seen as any different from managing other popular physical conditions like diabetes, nutrition, or any other aspect of human health wellness.
We should reduce the high levels of stigmatization against mental health by recognizing that it is neither a personal shortcoming nor a character flaw or a moral weakness. Our society needs to stop making fun of the mentally ill people. The stigmatization around mental health has led to a discouraging silence culture where the victims are afraid to speak up about their tribulations. Sadly, the far-reaching effects of silence caused by stigmatization have claimed many lives through suicide. It is crucial that we act kindly towards the mentally ill and remove any ridicule from the mentally ill people. Let instead offer support to them.