Why does mental illness still face stigma? While most people would never think of making fun of someone with cancer, or any other physical illness, mental health disorders and conditions still remain fair game for ridicule.

Mental vs. physical
Why does the stigma of mental illnesses continue? For one thing, the term "mental illness" suggests that it's not the same as a medical or physical illness. To some, the word "mental" suggests that the illness is not a legitimate medical condition but rather a problem caused by your own choices and actions. People may blame you and think your condition is "all in your head." Furthermore, there are no blood tests or physical evidence to prove that mental illness exists. Professionals can only diagnose mental illness through self-reports and behavior. They may think that a mental health disorder means that you're weak or lazy. They may think that you should just "get over it." And you may begin to think these things about yourself, too.

In reality, mental illnesses have very complex causes, often a mix of your genetics, your biology and your life experiences - most of which are beyond your control. Neuroimaging studies, for instance, show physical changes in the brain associated with mental disorders. And studies show that some mental illnesses run in families, suggesting that they may be due in part to genetics.

Some people also believe that if you have a mental health disorder, you must be dangerous and violent. This perception is often inflamed by media accounts of crime in which someone is vaguely referred to as "mentally ill."

Statistics, however, don't emphasize any connection between mental illnesses and violence. In fact, most people suffering from mental illness are neither violent nor criminals.

Todd Stern M.Ed.

Mental illness has many faces. Just as physical illness manifests itself in many different ways, so too does mental illness. Currently, it is estimated that approximately one in five people suffer from mental illness of one form or another. While it is only human nature for people to fear what we don’t understand, fear of mental illness actually stops people from obtaining the necessary help that they so desperately need. It is unfortunate that this happens because effective treatment exists for almost all mental illnesses. Worse, the stigma experienced by people with a mental illness can be more destructive than the illness itself.

There are many myths about mental illness. Until people learn the truth, they will continue to deny that mental illness exists at all or avoid the topic all together. Some of the common myths associated with mental illness are:
- People with mental illness are violent and dangerous. The truth is that, as a group, mentally ill people are no more violent than any other group. In fact, they are far more likely to be the victims of violence than to be violent themselves.
- People with mental illness are poor and/or less intelligent. Many studies show that most mentally ill people have average or above-average intelligence. Mental illness, like physical illness, can affect anyone regardless of intelligence, social class or income level.

- Mental illness is caused by a personal weakness. A mental illness is not a character flaw. It is an illness, and it has nothing to do with being weak or lacking will power. Although people with mental illness play a big part in their own recovery, they did not choose to become ill, and they are not lazy because they cannot just "snap out of it."
- Another common myth about mental illness is that it is a single, rare disorder. Mental illness is not a single disease but in fact, a broad classification of many different disorders. Anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, personality disorders, eating disorders and organic brain syndromes can cause misery, tears, discrimination, fear and missed opportunities for thousands of Canadians.
(Part 2 to be continued next week...)

Todd Stern M.Ed.