Reducing Stigma

Summary

This video script addresses the issue of stigma surrounding mental illnesses, highlighting its negative impact on individuals like Stephan, a university student who struggles with stress and fear of judgment. It emphasizes the importance of understanding mental health as a legitimate health condition, not an excuse for bad behavior. The script suggests ways to combat stigma, including self-reflection, mindful language, media critique, education, and fostering supportive relationships. It encourages viewers to take actionable steps towards reducing stigma and supporting those with mental health challenges.

Takeaways

• 🤔 Stigma is a set of negative beliefs and prejudices about a group of people, often leading to discrimination and exclusion.
• 🌐 Stigma can affect individuals based on various factors such as race, religion, sexuality, gender, and economic situation.
• 😔 People with mental illnesses frequently face stigma, which can result in feelings of shame, hopelessness, and reluctance to seek help.
• 🤷‍♂️ Historical misunderstanding of mental illnesses has contributed to the stigma, as they were once seen as a sign of weakness or danger.
• 💡 Reducing stigma involves understanding mental illnesses as health conditions that require proper treatment, just like physical illnesses.
• 🚫 Avoid using hurtful language or labels when referring to mental illnesses to prevent further stigmatization.
• 📚 Educating oneself about mental health issues through trusted sources can help in combating stigma and misinformation.
• 👂 Being aware of media portrayals of mental illnesses and questioning their accuracy can contribute to a more informed perspective.
• 🤝 Building relationships with individuals who have mental health challenges can foster understanding and empathy.
• 🔍 Encouraging open conversations about mental health can help to normalize the topic and reduce the fear and misunderstanding surrounding it.
• 🌟 Small actions, such as using inclusive language or reaching out to someone in need, can make a significant difference in reducing stigma.

Q & A

What is stigma according to the script?

Stigma is described as a set of negative beliefs and prejudices about a group of people, which also includes negative behaviors towards those groups.

Why do people with mental illnesses often face stigma?

People with mental illnesses face stigma because of a lack of understanding and historical misconceptions that led to them being seen as outcasts or dangerous.

What impact does stigma have on individuals with mental health issues?

Stigma can lead to feelings of shame, hopelessness, distress, and reluctance to seek or accept help. It can also contribute to the belief that they are to blame for their illness.

What percentage of Canadians thought people use mental illness as an excuse for bad behavior, according to the script?

Almost half of Canadians thought people use the term mental illness as an excuse for bad behavior.

How does the script suggest that mental illnesses should be viewed?

Mental illnesses should be viewed like any other health conditions that require the right treatment, not as a sign of weakness or an excuse for behavior.

What is the example given in the script to illustrate how stigma can hurt someone?

The script uses the example of Stephan, a first-year university student who is stressed and overwhelmed but afraid to seek help due to the stigma associated with mental health, leading to worsening feelings and difficulties in school.

Why is it important to get help early for mental health conditions?

Research indicates that the sooner someone receives help for any health condition, including mental illnesses, the better the outcome will be.

What are some ways the script suggests to reduce stigma around mental illness?

The script suggests thinking about one's own feelings and biases, being aware of language, discussing media portrayals, learning more about mental illnesses, and exploring relationships with those who have mental health challenges.

What is the role of language in perpetuating stigma as discussed in the script?

Language plays a significant role in stigmatization, as using hurtful words like 'psycho' or 'crazy' can reinforce negative stereotypes and prejudices.

How can individuals help to reduce stigma and support those with mental health issues, as per the script?

Individuals can help by not using hurtful language, reaching out to those who might be struggling, encouraging them to seek help, and sharing personal experiences if comfortable and safe.

What resources does the script recommend for more information on stigma?

The script recommends checking out resources from the Canadian Mental Health Association or Bell Let's Talk, and visiting HaveTHATtalk.ca for more information.

Outlines

00:00

😔 Understanding Stigma and Mental Illness

This paragraph introduces the concept of stigma, particularly as it relates to mental illness. It discusses the negative beliefs and prejudices that can lead to discrimination against individuals based on various factors, including mental health. The paragraph highlights the emotional impact of stigma, such as feelings of shame, hopelessness, and fear, which can prevent people from seeking help. It also touches on historical misunderstandings of mental illness and the importance of changing perceptions to treat it like any other health condition. The narrative includes a statistic about Canadian attitudes towards mental illness and provides an example of a university student named Stephan who struggles with the stigma and its consequences.

Keywords

💡Stigma

Stigma refers to a set of negative beliefs, attitudes, stereotypes, and prejudices that people hold against certain groups or individuals. In the context of the video, stigma is associated with mental illnesses, leading to discrimination and negative behaviors towards those who suffer from them. The video emphasizes the harmful effects of stigma, such as causing individuals to feel ashamed, hopeless, and reluctant to seek help, which is exemplified by the character Stephan who avoids getting help due to fear of being judged.

💡Discrimination

Discrimination is the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, sex, or disability. The video discusses how individuals with mental illnesses often face discrimination, which can exacerbate their conditions and hinder their access to necessary support and treatment. It is highlighted that almost half of Canadians view mental illness as an excuse for bad behavior, illustrating the pervasive nature of this discrimination.

💡Mental Illness

Mental illness is a term used to describe a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking, and behavior. The video script underscores the reality that people living with mental illnesses often face stigma and discrimination, which can lead to feelings of isolation and fear of seeking help. It also points out the misconception that mental illnesses are not genuine health conditions, as evidenced by the attitudes of some who believe individuals use mental illness as an excuse for bad behavior.

💡Prejudice

Prejudice is a preconceived opinion or judgment that is not based on reason or actual experience. In the video, prejudice is discussed as a component of stigma, where people hold negative beliefs about those with mental illnesses without understanding their actual experiences or conditions. This prejudice can lead to harmful behaviors and attitudes that further marginalize individuals with mental health issues.

💡Acceptance

Acceptance in the video refers to the understanding and embracing of individuals with mental illnesses as part of the broader community. It is presented as a key factor in reducing stigma, as acceptance can foster an environment where individuals feel comfortable seeking help and being open about their conditions. The video encourages viewers to accept mental illnesses as legitimate health issues that require appropriate treatment.

💡Treatment

Treatment in this context refers to the medical or psychological interventions provided to individuals with mental illnesses to alleviate symptoms and improve their quality of life. The video script highlights the importance of proper treatment for mental illnesses, comparing it to other health conditions like diabetes, and stresses that dismissing mental health issues with simplistic advice is not helpful.

💡Language

Language, as discussed in the video, plays a significant role in shaping perceptions and attitudes. The script calls for awareness of the language used when referring to mental illnesses, advising against hurtful terms like 'psycho' or 'crazy'. The choice of words can either perpetuate stigma or contribute to a more understanding and supportive environment.

💡Media Representation

Media representation refers to how individuals or groups are portrayed in various forms of media, such as television, movies, and news. The video points out that the media's portrayal of people with mental illnesses is often inaccurate or unfair, which can contribute to stigmatizing beliefs. It encourages viewers to critically examine media portrayals and consider their impact on public perception.

💡Education

Education is emphasized in the video as a tool to combat stigma by increasing understanding and awareness of mental illnesses. It suggests that learning more about these conditions from trusted sources can help dispel myths and stereotypes, leading to more informed and compassionate attitudes towards individuals affected by mental health issues.

💡Support

Support in the context of the video refers to the assistance and encouragement provided to individuals with mental health challenges, which can come from family, friends, or professionals. The video stresses the importance of early support in improving outcomes for mental health conditions, and it also discusses the role of stigma in preventing individuals from seeking the support they need.

💡Awareness

Awareness, as mentioned in the video, is the state of being conscious or knowledgeable about something, particularly in the context of mental health. The script encourages viewers to raise awareness about mental illnesses and the challenges faced by those who live with them, which can help reduce stigma and promote a more inclusive society.

Highlights

Stigma is described as a set of negative beliefs and prejudices about a group of people, including negative behaviors towards them.

People may face stigma due to race, religion, sexuality, gender, economic situation, and other factors.

Mental illnesses are often associated with stigma, leading to feelings of shame, hopelessness, and reluctance to seek help.

Public misconceptions about mental illnesses include the belief that they are an excuse for bad behavior or that individuals are to blame for their condition.

Historical misunderstandings of mental illnesses have contributed to their stigmatization, with affected individuals once considered outcasts or dangerous.

To combat stigma, it's important to understand that mental illnesses are health conditions requiring proper treatment, just like physical illnesses.

Common but harmful advice like 'just be happy' is compared to saying diabetes will go away with positive thinking, highlighting the lack of understanding.

The story of Stephan, a university student struggling with mental health, illustrates the real-life impact of stigma on seeking help.

Research indicates that early help for mental health issues leads to better outcomes, emphasizing the importance of overcoming stigma.

Strategies to reduce stigma include self-reflection on personal biases, mindful language use, and critical analysis of media portrayals.

Education about mental illnesses through trusted sources is encouraged to foster understanding and acceptance.

Building relationships with individuals facing mental health challenges can help in reducing stigma by fostering empathy and understanding.

The video calls to action, asking viewers to list ways they can help reduce stigma and become more accepting of those with mental illnesses.

Small acts such as avoiding hurtful language or reaching out to someone who might be struggling can make a significant difference in reducing stigma.

Sharing personal experiences with mental illness, if comfortable and safe, can help others and contribute to reducing stigma.

Resources for more information on stigma are provided, including HaveTHATtalk.ca, supported by Ottawa Public Health and Bell Let’s Talk.

Transcripts

Have you ever felt left out or judged by people because they thought you were different from

them?

Maybe you’ve been discriminated against?

How did this affect you?

Maybe you felt misunderstood...embarrassed, alone, or even afraid?

That is what stigma might feel like.

So what is stigma?

Stigma is a set of negative beliefs, and prejudices, about a group of people Stigma also includes

negative behaviors towards groups of people.

Many people face stigma because of their race, religion, sexuality, gender, economic situation

and a variety of other things.

People living with mental illnesses often face stigma and discrimination.

This can make them feel ashamed, hopeless, distressed, reluctant to get help or accept

help and feel like they are to blame for their illness.

In fact, almost half of Canadians thought people use the term mental illness as an excuse

for bad behavior, and 27% said they would be fearful of being around someone who has

a serious mental illness.

Why do some people think this way?

Well…many years ago, mental illnesses were not well understood.

We didn’t know how mental illnesses influenced a person’s brain or affected their thoughts,

feelings and behaviors.

People with mental illnesses were not treated with the support they needed, and were considered

outcasts or even dangerous.

To end stigma, people need to understand and accept that mental illnesses are like any

other health conditions and need the right treatment.

We would never say to someone “just think positively and your diabetes will go away”

But how many times have you heard “try to be happy…think positively…don’t be so

depressed.

You have so many good things in your life.”

Let’s look at an example of how stigma can hurt someone.

Stephan is a first year university student.

He likes his program and has some new friends.

However, Stephan feels stressed and overwhelmed by all of his schoolwork and being away from

home.

He is not feeling like himself and most days he doesn’t want to get out of bed.

He’s afraid his friends will think he’s weak if he tells them …and he doesn’t

want anyone seeing him at the clinic so he doesn’t reach out for help on campus…

His feelings get worse…and he’s having a hard time staying in school.

Like with Stephan, the stigma people experience often prevents them from getting help and

support from family, friends and professionals.

We know from research that the sooner someone gets help, the better the outcome will be.

This is true for all health conditions, including mental illnesses.

So…..how can we reduce stigma and help people like Stephan?

1) Think about your own feelings about mental illnesses.

Do you have biases or judge people?

2) Be aware of language: avoid using words that can be hurtful like “psycho” or “crazy”….

3) Think about and discuss what you see in the media: How people with mental illnesses

are shown in the media is not always accurate or fair…

4) Learn more about mental illnesses: check out trusted websites like the Canadian Mental

Health Association or Bell Let’s Talk

5) Explore opportunities for relationships with people in your life who have mental health

challenges and illnesses.

After watching this video, make a list of ways you can help yourself and your communities

become more accepting of all people including those of us living with mental illness.

Think about one thing you can do now to help reduce stigma around mental illness?

It could be a small thing like not using hurtful and labeling words…

It could be reaching out to someone who you think might be struggling and encouraging

them to get help…

It could be sharing your own experience living with a mental illness with someone you trust…if

that feels comfortable and safe for you.

All of these things help reduce stigma and keep it from stopping others…and ourselves...from

getting help when needed

For more info and resources on stigma, check out 

HaveTHATtalk.ca

Brought to you by Ottawa Public Health with support from Bell Let’s Talk.