Stigma & Mental Health

"You can't judge someone just because they don't conform to society's standards of sexual normalcy!" Kiryu, Yakuza 0.

What is social sigma?
Social stigma occurs when someone views another person based on negative assumptions that distinguishes them from other members of society, often resulting in labeling, exclusion, stereotypes, and discrimination.  This process of "othering" or stigmatizing may relate to gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, culture, intellect, or health.

Stigma Toward Mental Health and Illness

• over-protective-infantilization.
• Attributing a mental illness as a lack of will power, confidence, self-discipline, and/or intelligence.
• Exaggerating claims of danger or characterizing someone as violent where violence hasn't been demonstrated.
• Non-expert and unsolicited advice to try meditation, yoga, quitting medications, taking up different religious practices, Pavlovian dog training, and other non-therapeutic and potentially harmful "problem-solving."
• Inferior treatment in health care a la negative attitudes and stereotyping behavior.
• Lack of accommodation/inappropriate accommodation specific to the condition.
• Dismissing or ignoring concerns.
• Abuse including physical, verbal, spiritual, emotional, sexual, etc
• Self-stigma e.g. "I'm so embarrassed that I take anti-depressants because society said it's embarrassing," "I shouldn't feel this way," "I shouldn't need help."  Be kind to yourself.

If you live with a mental illness and receive stigma, your prerogative is to get back into your window of tolerance, not to word joust someone who isn't willing to learn.  My hope and wish is for you to take care of yourself, first.