Perspectives December 2020∣Youth Hong Kong
Moving beyond stigma by Joanne Wilson Nobody likes to be seen in a negative way. Nobody wants to be labelled “crazy”, “unpredictable”, or “criminal”. Nobody wants to be feared, misunderstood or ignored. Unfortunately, the experience of many people living with mental health issues is just that. As a mental health social worker in a large Canadian city, I was a member of a multidisciplinary team that assisted people with major mental health issues to live successfully in the community. I witnessed first-hand how discrimination and stigmatization made community integration and recovery difficult for the individuals I was trying to help but, sadly, the stigma of being labelled prevents many people from asking for help. They want to be seen as a whole person, not reduced to a “diagnosis” or seen as a problem. They blame themselves for the symptoms they are experiencing and do not see that mental illness is a medical condition that can be treated, like diabetes or heart disease. However, the longer it takes for a person to get connected to mental health support, the greater the impact on other areas of their life. Their symptoms may increase and their personal relationships may become strained. They may commit a crime and become involved in the criminal justice system. Furthermore, recovery for a young person who is labelled as a “delinquent” or for anyone who is called “criminal” can be delayed. The stigma or negative attitudes surrounding mental health can make it very hard for someone to find and maintain a decent place to live or work. Landlords often do not want to rent an apartment to a person who is known to have a mental health issue and employers may be reluctant to hire and give the necessary support to such people. Although this violates the Human Rights Code in Canada, discrimination by landlords and employers is all too common and further complicates securing a safe place to live and finding a meaningful job.* Often there is an outcry by neighbours when mental health and offender programmes locate or relocate into a community. This may be as a result of belief in the myth 20
that if there are people with mental health issues or past criminal convictions in the neighbourhood it will decrease property values or increase crime levels. Neighbourhood businesses can also make people feel unwelcome. The families of those with mental health problems are also impacted by the negative attitudes, myths and stereotypes of mental illness in society. Stigma can lead those families to feel isolated and alone. They can feel guilty and ashamed of their loved ones, blame themselves for the illness and carry the burden in silence. The mental health system in any jurisdiction can be difficult to understand and navigate but when families are offered education and support they do not feel so alone and can help their loved ones to feel positive and hopeful that there is help available for them.
