SANE Australia has released a major new report, investigating the harm done by stigma attached to mental illnesses. The report looks at programs from around the world to see what works best to tackle it, and lays out recommendations for what needs to be done in Australia, especially to reduce stigma against people affected by schizophrenia and other psychotic illnesses.
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Stigma against mental illness is common. Its impact is serious. Action is urgently needed to eliminate stigma so that people affected by mental illness are included and valued as equal members of our society.
Stigma stops people asking for help and getting the treatment and support they need. It makes it more difficult to find somewhere decent to live, a job, a mortgage, or insurance. It can make it more difficult to get help to look after children, make friends, feel good about yourself, or even to feel that life is worth living.
Stigma is a major barrier to recovery. If people with mental illness are to be included as equal members of our society, then stigma and its associated discrimination must be eliminated.
Studies in Australia and overseas show that stigma is a very common experience. A SANE Australia survey (2006) found that almost three-quarters of respondents living with a mental illness (74 per cent) had experienced stigma. They said a reduction in stigma would help them to: feel better about themselves; manage their illness better; get back to work or study, and, join in social activities.
Australian research among people living with a psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia, found that almost 40 per cent reported experiencing stigma or discrimination in the past year alone.
The proportion was higher in females, with almost a half reporting stigma or discrimination in the past year compared with a third of males. Many reported that the fear of stigma or discrimination had stopped them doing some of the things they had wanted to do, and overall stigma and discrimination was one of the main challenges reported for the coming year.
Stigma can be experienced directly, as when someone is avoided due to a diagnosis of schizophrenia, or is passed over for promotion solely because a manager knows they have had depression. It can also be seen in public perceptions – for example, in the common association of schizophrenia with violence.
It is stigma towards oneself, however, which can do the most harm.
Just because someone has a mental illness doesn’t mean they don’t share common community attitudes to mental illness.
Self-stigma can be the most harmful form of stigma. When someone self-stigmatises, they take on negative and inaccurate stereotypes and accept that ‘people with mental illness are of less value to society or to themselves’. The fear of being rejected can then stop someone from going out, socialising, looking for a job, or taking part in their local community.
While there have been some improvements in knowledge about mental illness and understanding of its impact on day-to-day lives, there is still widespread misunderstanding and ignorance, particularly about some diagnoses.
Myths – such as that people with depression are weak and should just pull their socks up, or that all people with psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia are unpredictable and to be feared – are hurtful and harmful as well as being inaccurate. Dispelling these myths is important if people with mental illness are to be fully accepted into families, workplaces and communities.
If we are to work towards a society where every person is valued, respected, and belongs, we must address stigma.
Most of us will be affected by mental illness somehow at some time in our lives, so it is important for everyone in our community to feel comfortable talking about mental illness, and not to fear disclosing their own experience.
A strategy to tackle stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness is vital, and should be a non-negotiable component of mental health policies and plans. It should be as non-negotiable as treatment and support programs.
It is essential if we are to help people with mental illness live a contributing life. This strategy will also benefit recruitment of people to work in mental health services in both clinical and non-clinical roles.
Significant progress has been made in the last ten years to reduce the stigma associated with depression. Ongoing government and community support for organisations such as beyondblue and the Black Dog Institute will help ensure progress continues and extends to anxiety.
Australia now needs a national, long-term strategy and campaign to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness, with a particular focus on psychotic illness.
The strategy must be consistent with national and state mental health plans and strategies, the social inclusion agenda and the forward workplan of the National Mental Health Commission.
SANE Australia is calling on the major political parties to review the report and make stigma reduction for mental illness a commitment in the upcoming Federal election.
For the full report and to read SANE’s recommendations for action, see here.
