Quote:
Originally Posted by Vibrating Obsidian
Hello folks,
So as per to a recent thread discussing the idea of opening up a Mental Health Stigma discussion board, I decided to open up a place myself, right here
A personal goal I see is reaching a solid solution for stigma, through opinions and constructive knowledge. I’ll start with my opinion, though it leans to pessimism.
My view on stigma is that... it is justified not because it hurts, but because stigma was created in the first place. Just like racism, if it exists then it’s inevitable. I know it’s a painful view, but I think it’s important to understand why there’s stigma in the first place before fighting it.
As for why fight stigma - because we are all connected. Mental health is an internal part of a social system, so it’s the social system (aka society) which makes the terms up about itself.
Once we understand that such issues are created within the system, then we know that the system itself is responsible for how it runs, in an overview.
This way, the “blame” shifts from people with defined “mental health issues”, into the system itself.
I would like to add, that I have also come up with a scheme which shows how workplaces affect families in the long run regarding defined “emotional health” and even “mental health”. I’ll be glad to express it per your wishes. For now though, let’s start the discussion
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----Thanks so much for starting this. Those of us who are still hiding our diagnosis are sick of it Im sure. And seeing so many prejudices crumbling down over the decades makes us resent having to hide it. I just showed my age, I guess, LOL! I'm semi retired right now, so I feel a degree of liberation. I would still hide it if I were working. NAMI is working on this, the younger generation of royalty in Great Britain, etc. More of us would have to come out to fight this effectively, I think.
I think some progress has been made. I remember when the stigma was worse. People were just afraid of mental illness in general. Way back, before lithium, depression and bipolar were to a large extent untreatable. Now there are more and more medications available and I think that has helped.And today many people realize how many people have at least depression at some time in their life.
On the down side (great bipolar pun LOL) the school shootings and other non political mass attacks (or all of them)increase stigma because the perpetrators are clearly mentally ill.
My family doesn't understand bipolar and they know me. My mom had situational depression and my grandfather had depression also so she understands at least the depression part. I have had this for 40 years, diagnosed myself, and diagnosed myself as mixed states and some days I myself feel I don't understand bipolar (my triggers, how far I can push myself, etc.) I think educating our family and the public is the first step in fighting stigma. It would be great if more celebrities would come out and help raise money for this. Some marches, teeshirts, armbands, etc would be great. Tee shirt could say Bipolars give twice the love!
Hugs everyone!