The Quiet Life of Stigma

Written by Gary E. Weinstein, L.C.S.W., CEO of Transitions Mental Health Services

Stigma and mental illness has been a key topic long before mental illnesses were finally identified as legitimate illnesses. It isn’t hard to believe that even though research has long told us that mental illnesses are bona fide brain disorders, that there is no involvement of evil spirits, that it has nothing to do with how we live our lives, what we eat, where we live, or whether or not we masturbate, the stigma still persists. Racial, religious and age-related stigma still persists, so why not mental illness?

Stigma is the result of specific judgments being placed upon an entire group of people that result in that group being unfairly excluded from activities, acceptance and opportunities. Persons with mental illnesses have endured such stigma and the resulting discrimination that so often accompanies it. The problem is that there are still uninformed people out there who are perpetuating the stigma and keeping good people down. Whether we are talking about insurance, access to medical and mental health treatment, job attainment, depiction in the movies and in the news or even amongst friends who see someone pass them by who is acting a little unusual and one friend says to the other, “He must be schizo,” then they all have a laugh. It’s all stigma.

Stigma, regardless of the particular target, is damaging beyond what one might assume. “After all, it’s no big thing. It’s not like I’m serious. It’s just some light humor. But anyway, there are people out there with mental illnesses who do act weird and are schizo. There are even mentally ill who are dangerous so why shouldn’t I be able to say what I feel? I don’t want them living near me.”

The reason is that stigma sticks, expands and festers. Stigma also creates an environment where it is okay to berate and harm others. Who’s to say that the next target might not be people from the west side, or people in big business, or people who eat fast food, or even people who really don’t do anything notable? It’s just that they are here and an easy target.

I imagine that the majority of people would swear that they have not perpetuated or participated in stigmatizing behavior-and they probably believe it. We have to remember, however, that stigma digs away at the fabric of our communities sometimes not immediately obviously disruptive or noticed. Stigma, we have to remember, is not necessarily physically violent or even direct. It can be sneaky. It can be quiet. It’s impact can be delayed. I can easily discriminate against people with mental illnesses by simply quietly not hiring them, not buying that house next door to someone with a mental illness that I would otherwise purchase. I can quietly contact my congressperson and ask that she vote against insurance parity. Even more sneaky, I can just not call her to tell her to vote for it. I can choose not give to providers who provide services to them (because I give to other things-though I can’t think of one now). I can just not bother to get to know a person with mental illness once I am made aware of him. I can quietly not become indignant when I see a person with a mental illness who is homeless because he can’t get services so he can then get a job to support himself.

No, Stigma is not a major issue. Not around here, at any rate. I haven’t heard of any homes of individuals being burned, no public protests against them, and I certainly haven’t read about any beatings of individuals with mental illnesses.

Right, there have been no beatings reported as of late and no marches but, let’s not fool ourselves, stigma still exists. Maybe it’s just a little quieter now. But no less despicable.

For information about Transitions Mental Health Services, please call us. (Contact information can be found in the "About Us" section of this blog.)