I firmly believe that the negative stigma on mental health is a global crisis. The most significant concern is that negative stigma deters individuals from seeking treatment for mental-health-related conditions, which is unfortunate since many ailments need immediate intervention to avoid progression. Addiction, for example, is an area that needs prompt intervention to deter continued use that may affect one’s mortality.
According to Corrigan and Watson (2002), individuals are impacted by two types of stigmas: public stigma and self-stigma. Moreover, public stigma is an external bias one encounters by seeking treatment from other individuals or groups; self-stigma is the internal bias one experiences through subjective beliefs that control their emotional reactions, including their overall decision making (Corrigan & Watson, 2002). Further, labeling individuals with substance disorders as “addicts” is also counterproductive. Cernasev et al. (2021) indicated that labeling individuals as “addicts” reinforces the common notion that addiction is shameful, which can be a treatment deterrent.
As a society, we can do much better. We need to understand that labeling, in any sense, is unacceptable and manifests more harm than good. Individuals needing treatment for addictive-related conditions must have the proper social support systems that encourage sobriety and recovery versus negative stigma that acts as a treatment deterrent.
There is no difference in someone seeking treatment for high blood pressure or addiction; they are people, sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, friends, and coworkers. They need support, encouragement, guidance; they need to be treated like everyone else.
It is time to end the stigma; it is time to treat mental health treatment as common as general healthcare. It is up to society to make a difference; let’s be the change!
Dr. Michael Leptic
References Cernasev, A., Frederick, K., Hall, E., Veve, M., & Homeier, K. (2021). “Don’t label them as addicts!” Students pharmacists’ views on the stigma associated with opioid use disorder. Innovations in Pharmacy, 12(2), 1–8.
Corrigan, P., & Watson, A. (2002). Understanding the impact of stigma on people with mental illness. World Psychiatry, 1(1), 16–20.
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