Embracing Diversity in Design
“Discrimination is so invalidating, I may have a personality disorder, but I AM NOT a personality disorder. I’m emotionally dysregulated, and impulsive/opportunistic but I never truly judge others. I have issues with my weight, but that’s MY weight. Sometimes I will struggle with thinner people, but it’s just because I’m jealous. Stigma makes people feel ashamed of talking about their mental illnesses/disorder. It’s never too bad to talk about.”
~Hannah, 22 years old, Anorexia Nervosa and Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD)
“Even with an understanding circle around me, I still encounter the stigma. A lot of people become uncomfortable around the topic and my posts regarding mental health are never too popular.”
~Daytona Mills, 28 years old, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
“Some asked very insensitive question, or they just wanted to tell me their opinions on what was wrong and not listen to me.”
~Shah, Eating Disorder
There are innumerable other people with similar experiences, pointing towards the fact that in present day scenario, social stigma against mental illnesses is a huge problem in the society.
The whole existence of it only worsens the situation for the patient, either by aggravating their conditions due to the behavior of the society, or by preventing the person to approach a doctor due to the fear of social exclusion.
Since unemployment, social exclusion and poverty are all associated with occurrence of mental illness, and these are also the results of it because of the intermediary stigmatic practices in the society, it generally results with patients ending up in a vicious cycle.
Common Effects
· Internalization of negative beliefs
· Social isolation
· Low self-esteem
· Hopelessness
· Shame
· Avoiding treatment
· Worsening symptoms
· Lack of criminal justice
· Discrimination at work
· Unemployment
What can we do?
· Talk openly about mental health.
· Treat them equivalent to physical illnesses.
· Spread awareness.
· Be conscious of language while talking to people, especially the ones you know are suffering.
· Show compassion for those with mental illness.
· Be honest about the treatment.
· Normalize existence and treatment of mental illnesses.
· Fight against it.
How to deal with it?
· Get the mental health treatment you need. Try not to let the fear of being labelled with a mental illness stop you from getting help.
· Do not believe it. Try not to let other people’s ignorance influence the way you feel about yourself. Mental illness is not a sign of weakness and is rarely something you can deal with on your own. Talking about your mental health issues with healthcare professionals will help you on your road to recovery or management.
· Do not hide away, reach out to people you trust.
· Connect with others. Join a mental health support group.
· Do not define yourself by your illness as other people might. Instead of saying ‘I’m schizophrenic’, say ‘I have schizophrenia’. There is power in language.
· It’s not personal. Remember that other people’s judgements often come from a lack of understanding rather than anything else.
It’s not only the beauty that lies in the eyes of the beholder, so does the venom!
