Stigma on People with Mental Illness
Stigma on People with Mental Illness
Corrigan, Patrick W., and Amy C. Watson. “Understanding the Impact of Stigma on People with Mental Illness.” Journal of the World Psychiatry, vol, 1, no 1, 2002, pp. 16-20.
The article provides background information on the stigma of mental illness. To begin with, the paper provides a varying definition of self and public stigma and show how they are viewed in different contexts. Secondly, the paper provides three approaches on how both self and public stigma can be understood. The three components are a stereotype, discrimination, and prejudice. The stereotype is general notions held by a group of people regarding something. Stereotypes lead to prejudice in mentally ill patients (Corrigan, and Watson 2). Prejudice can lead to both self-discrimination and public discrimination.
The article provides plausible information relevant to the topic of research. The article clearly elaborates how public stigma is proliferated in the society. General public attitudes about mental illness are used to spread stigma about mental illness. The attitudes held by the public create various impressions about mentally ill people that lead to fear and exclusion of the victims. Moreover, the public creates an impression that others should make the decisions for the mentally ill people (Corrigan, and Watson 4). The article provides measures to counter impacts of public stigma. On the other hand, self-stigma makes the mentally ill to feel less valued in the society. The feeling affects their recovery and exacerbates self-denial and prejudice.
The issue that arises and is worth researching on is how prejudice leads to violent behaviors among mentally ill people. Stereotypes affect the people with mental illness, and they turn to violence in search of solace (Corrigan, & Watson 1).
The Second Article is on Mental Illness Stigma
Overton, Stacy L., and Sondra L. Medina. “The Stigma of Mental Illness.” Journal of Counseling and Development: JCD, vol. 86, no. 2, 2008, 143.
The article is comprehensive, and it covers the impacts of stigma on persons with psychological illness, the definition of mental disorder and humiliation and theories of stigma. The theories explored include virtual social identity where the stigmatized people from a virtual space in the society when they became disfavored and Dishonored (Overton and Sondra 144). The other theory is spoiled collective identity where the denounced persons are abridged in the mind of the normal people to tainted and discounted persons (Overton and Sondra 144). Structural stigma theory depicts how stigmatized people are restrained from taking part in social activities by the barriers created by the public. The article also explores the process of stigmatization, which starts with cues (understanding that something is different from normal), stereotypes, prejudice, discrimination, and avoidance. Moreover, the article also explores the influence of stigmatization on individuals with mental disorder and in the society, how stigmatization can be mitigated, and how improving clinician can help in mitigating stigma. The article was effective in helping one to research on the stigma of mental illness.
The issue that arose and is worth to researching on is how the different theories of stigmatization are formed and how they impact on the mentally ill persons.
Works Cited
Corrigan, Patrick W., and Amy C. Watson. “Understanding the Impact of Stigma on People with Mental Illness.” Journal of the World Psychiatry, vol, 1, no 1, 2002, pp. 16-20.
Overton, Stacy L., and Sondra L. Medina. “The Stigma of Mental Illness.” Journal of Counseling and Development: JCD, vol. 86, no. 2, 2008, 143.
