Global Stigma And Discrimination Towards Mental Illness

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Global Stigma and Discrimination towards Mental Illness Many mental illness victims have enough problems when dealing with their illnesses. Nonetheless, they also face other issues like stigmatization, and it is not addressed often. Stigma is an indication of shame and dishonor (Brown and Bradley). Stigma and discrimination towards mental illness is a continuous issue that has not been resolved because it occurs in the healthcare field, medical education, entertainment, workplaces, and the media, in spite of claims that the media helps combat stigma towards mental illness and treatments.
Healthcare settings are contributing to stigma towards the mentally ill. The Canadian Medical Association Journal found that many health professionals unknowingly
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In reality, news networks stigmatize mentally ill people, treatments, and mental illness itself. Even though the media have created many stories correctly describing mental illness, the grand majority of pieces produced are insensitive and offensive. The North American Journal of Psychology found that from 1995 to 2014, half of all news coverage of mental illness had to do with violence (DeSensi and Jurs). This has a large impact on American children, as kids grow up watching television and constantly viewing news stories of mentally ill murderers. This creation of a negative point of view affects the mentally ill through intolerance and the public’s perception and evaluation of mental health problems. After a report of a murder committed by a mentally ill person is released, it can spread everywhere through television, the radio, and the internet. This forms fear towards the mentally ill and results in people believing stereotypes and rejecting them, which can be seen as justification for wrongful treatment such as bullying and coercion. Not only has the media lowered mentally ill patients’ self-esteems, but they also discouraged treatments. Through “malignant depictions of madness and horrifying illustrations of psychiatric treatments,” the media is creating a fear towards treatment, which has drastic effects on mentally …show more content…
Bradley. "Reducing the stigma of mental illness.
(Professional Exchange)." Journal of Mental Health Counseling, Jan. 2002, p. 81+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A830326 29/GPS?u=j101914013 &sid=GPS&xid=c5 5dd127. Accessed 21 Jan. 2018.
DeSensi, Victoria L., and Bethany S. Jurs. "Coverage of Psychological Disorder Stigma in Introductory Psychology." North American Journal of Psychology, vol. 19, no. 3, 2017, p. 717. Academic OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A51787 9277/GPS?u =j1019140 13&sid=GPS&xid=44cdb9c9. Accessed 21 Jan. 2018.
Papish, Andriyka, et al. "Reducing the stigma of mental illness in undergraduate medical education: a randomized controlled trial." BMC Medical Education, vol. 13, 2013, p. 141.Academic OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A349125389/GPS ?u=j101914013&sid=GPS&xid=b532eea3. Accessed 21 Jan. 2018.
Pellegrini, Christina. "Mental illness stigma in health care settings a barrier to care."
CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal, 7 Jan. 2014, p. E17. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A357473019/GPS?u=j1019140 13&sid=GPS&xid=430f6cfb. Accessed 21 Jan. 2018.
Persaud, Raj. "Knocking Bruno when he is down: how the media still stigmatises

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