People with mental illness often struggle with their social identity and how they are perceived in society

People with mental illness often struggle with their social identity and how they are perceived in society

People with mental illness are faced with many challenges and experience hardship due to the stigma and shame associated with it.

People with mental illness are faced with many challenges and experience hardship due to the stigma and shame associated with it.

Increasing training for law enforcement officers would give these first responders a better understanding of what it means to have a mental illness and what kind of treatment is necessary

Increasing training for law enforcement officers would give these first responders a better understanding of what it means to have a mental illness and what kind of treatment is necessary

As first responders, police officers play a significant role in the lives of people with mental illnesses.

As first responders, police officers play a significant role in the lives of people with mental illnesses. Since communities continue to rely heavily on them to be the gatekeepers, we must reexamine policies and procedures to ensure the encounters they have with vulnerable communities are appropriate, especially among people with mental illnesses.

Stigma experienced by people with mental illness greatly affects all aspects of their lives and oftens hinder them from getting a job, housing, and even treatment. Employers often assume that people with a mental health diagnosis are less dependable, unpredictable, and could be a danger to others.

Stigma experienced by people with mental illness greatly affects all aspects of their lives and oftens hinder them from getting a job, housing, and even treatment.  Employers often assume that people with a mental health diagnosis are less dependable, unpredictable, and could be a danger to others.

Due to the stigma associated with mental illness, many people suffering from mental illnesses often avoid seeking services.

Due to the stigma associated with mental illness, many people suffering from mental illnesses often avoid seeking services.

Stigma limits people with a mental health illness and affects the assessment regarding whether they are capable or not and creates unequal opportunities that cause many of them to feel less worthy

Stigma limits people with a mental health illness and affects the assessment regarding whether they are capable or not and creates unequal opportunities that cause many of them to feel less worthy

Nothing is more essential to the well-being of people with mental illness than acceptance and support given by the general public

Nothing is more essential to the well-being of people with mental illness than acceptance and support given by the general public

The ability for mental health practitioners to understand the wide-ranging roles of culture enables them to deliver services that are more responsive to the needs of racial and ethnic minorities.

The ability for mental health practitioners to understand the wide-ranging roles of culture enables them to deliver services that are more responsive to the needs of racial and ethnic minorities. Racial and ethnic culture is especially important in mental health issues, as the manifestations of symptoms, understandings, and perceptions of mental illnesses are all derived from an individual’s culture

Mental illness stigma leads many to hide their condition, study says

A new RAND study of Californians who have experienced psychological distress finds most would rather conceal their condition than face what they say are high levels of discrimination and prejudice.

More than two-thirds of those RAND surveyed say the stigma associated with mental illness would cause them to hide a mental health condition from co-workers and classmates. And more than one in three polled say they’d withhold such information from family members.

RAND developed and conducted the survey to assist the California Mental Health Services Administration (CalMSHA) in creating programs to improve the state’s residents’ mental well-being.  More than 1,000 Californians with some level of psychological distress were polled.

The study found nine out of 10 experienced discrimination, from family, friends, co-workers, health providers or law enforcement. It also found one in five surveyed might delay treatment for mental illness out of fear of someone finding out about their problem.

Still, about 70 percent of those surveyed said despite having a mental illness, they’re satisfied with life. They also said they believe recovery from mental illness is possible, and nearly all surveyed say they would be willing to seek treatment, if needed.

http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/04/23/51208/the-stigma-of-mental-illness-causes-many-californi/