Stigma can be defined as when someone sees you in a negative way due to different characteristics or individual trait that is thought to be or is a disadvantage. It has been noticed that negative reaction towards individuals who are suffering from mental health conditions are very common. Stigma can lead to diverse things most importantly discrimination.
Discrimination can be very direct and very obvious such as making a bad remark about an individuals health issues or even avoiding the individual due to the illness. Many persons with any kind of illness don't receive help from people due to the fact that people avoid them and the victims also will be afraid to speak up because of being treated distinct from others or fear of any kind.
HARMFUL EFFECT OF STIGMATIZATION.
1 It reduces the hope of the individual.
2 They begin to have low self-esteem.
3 They face more difficulties everywhere they find themselves.
4 They will face social isolation.
5 Harassment, bullying, or physical violence.
- The get dicouraged.
STEPS TO COPE WITH STIGMATIZATION.
1 Don't allow the stigma create within you shame and self-doubt: stigmatization does not just come from other persons but you as an individual may believe that your condition is a sign of individual weakness or you have the ability to control yourself.
Educating yourself by making research or seeking counselling for yourself about your present condition and interacting with others who are also suffering same lness can help you gain back the lost self-esteem and overcome every form of self judgement that is destructive.
2 Get necessary treatment needed: as a victim you might be reluctant to get treatment. Avoid fear allowing you to be labeled with the illness before seeking for help that is needed. The treatment will provide relief by getting to know what is wrong with you and then trying to reduce the symptoms that may want to interrupt with your personal life or work.
3 Avoid equating yourself with the illness: don't make yourself equal with the present illness instead give distance. Instead of saying things like " I am temperamental" you say " I have temperamental disorder". Try to find a support group and join because they offer programs that will help reduce stigmatization by educating and enlightening people with mental illness, the general public and also their families as a whole.
4 Connect with other persons.
5 Don't hide yourself in a secret place.
6 It's not a personal thing: always remember that people's comment mostly come from lack of knowledge and understanding gan anything at all.
WAYS TO REDUCE STIGMATIZATION.
1 Be aware of facts. Enlighten yourself about things related to mental illness of any kind.
2 Focus on the positive aspects so as not to be distracted by what people's reaction might be.
3 Choose your choice of words carefully, the way in which you talk can affect the attitude of others. Always put it in the mind that we are all different and in cases like this the victims need encouragement and our choice of words are very important.
4 Support people any time you can and have the ability to do so. The way you treat people is very important especially when they are being stigmatized. They need you to support them to the fullest that will give them a feeling that you really care a lot about them and will also help them recover speedily.
5 Educate other either you're a victim of stigmatization or not. When you're q victim you encourage others who are victims also not to loose hope because loosing hope will be what will kill them faster not even the illness, then if you're not a victim encourage does who are not victims also to support the victims when necessary because that what will keep them on their feets.
Your ability to say encouraging words will keep the victims on their feet and also make them forget their sorrow.
6 Be aware of your attitudes and behavior as an individual because it has great effect either positively or negatively.
Avoid the negative because it can kill the victim instantly at the spot. Be of good attitude and behavior to the stigmatized victim to help the person stay healthy.