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How to combat Stigma?
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Combat Mental Health Stigma
Adapted from Prof Wahl’s "Telling is risky business", we offer a list of 8 things you can do to fight mental health stigma
- Go beyond the stereotypes of mental illness and avoid prejudging those with mental illness on the basis of society and media stereotypes. Labels do not tell us about the person’s capacity for friendship or creativity or accomplishment. Also, they do not tell us clearly about a person’s specific symptoms or potential for recovery. Resisting the negative stereotypes that often cloud our thinking about mental illness is an important step in reducing stigma.
- Learn more about mental illness. To the extent that we are better informed about mental illness, we are able to evaluate and resist the inaccurate negative stereotypes of mental illness that are so common.
- Learn more about mental health stigma and discrimination.
- Speak up about mental health stigma. When someone we know misuses a psychiatric term, we can tactfully let them know about the inaccuracy and educate them about the correct meaning. When someone disparages a person with mental illness, tells a joke that ridicule mental illness, or make disrespectful comments about mental illness, we can let them know that this is hurtful and that, as mental health advocates, we find such comments offensive and harmful.
- Listen to people who have experienced mental illness. They are in best position to tell us how mental illness affect our lives.
- Watch our language. Most of us, including mental health professionals, mental health advocates and others use terms and expressions related to mental illness that may perpetuate mental health stigma. We can avoid contributing to mental health stigma by what is know as 'People First Language' to refer to persons, individuals, or people with mental illness.
- Talk openly about mental illness. The more mental illness remains hidden, the more people believe it is shameful and needs to be concealed. Talking about one’s own mental illness or illness of a loved one can help to counteract the negative attitudes the public possesses. In addition, talking openly about their mental illness can be empowering for individuals with those illness and help them to remove the internalised stigma they feel.
- Provide support for organisations that fight mental health stigma. The influence and effectiveness of these organisations and advocating for early treatment and greater acceptance of mental illness rely heavily on effort of and passion of their volunteers and adequacy of finances.
To combat mental health stigma and encourage treatment,
contact us to arrange a talk now! At,
info@SilverRibbonSingapore.com
Drawing By Mr Daren Lauchengco
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