Flourish - Latest Edition - Flipbook - Page 22
Even if we tell ourselves they’re not true,
it’s hard to shake their clutches. We all
have that little voice in our heads. For
people with mental health issues, that
voice can be our worst enemy. You may
have been in this boat where that voice
tells us we’re weak, pathetic, and
dishonest. Stigmatisation can result in
significant challenges for those
experiencing mental health issues.
Types Of Stigmas People
Face
Here are some of the types of stigmas
people face:
Public stigmas: This form of
stigmatisation can manifest as
bullying, exclusion, and discrimination
at work, school and in social settings.
These negative behaviours and
beliefs can be highly damaging.
Institutional stigmas: These stigmas
can look like negative policies, biases,
cultural norms, and organisational
practices. You can see institutional
stigmas in the workplace, where you
feel that your disability, mental health
disorder, or something entirely
different is holding you back, so you
continue hiding them.
Perceived stigmas: These stigmas are
the beliefs others hold and are built
on social foundations. If the media,
social media, and other avenues of
content tell us a mental illness isn’t
real or not as bad as people are
making it out to be, then those
around us are influenced to believe
them. We may then feel labelled and
less inclined to find support.
As a result of all the above, Health Direct
says people with mental illnesses who
experience stigmatisation can feel
discriminated against, bullied, excluded,
isolated, unworthy, and victimised.
