stigma and mental illness - fact sheet

Do you know the facts about stigma?

• Do you know that roughly 20% of any population will experience a mental illness some time in their lives?
• Do you know that stigma is not just the use of the wrong word or action?
• Do you know that stigma is about disrespect, and that stigma is about the use of negative labels to identify a person living with mental illness?
• Do you know that stigma causes a lot of suffering to the stigmatised person and has a huge impact on their lives?
• Do you know that stigma is a barrier and discourages individuals and their families from getting the help that they need?
• Do you know that many people would rather tell employers that they have committed a petty crime and were in jail, than admit to being in a psychiatric hospital?
• Do you know that stigma often results in fear, mistrust and violence against people living with mental illness?
• Do you know that stigma often results in families and friends turning their backs on people with mental illness?
• Do you know that stigma keeps people from getting needed mental health services?

Do's ...

• Do use respectful language such as:
  • person who has schizophrenia
  • person with a psychiatric disability
  • person with bipolar disorder
• Do emphasize abilities and qualities, not limitations
• Do tell someone if they express a stigmatising attitude

.... and don'ts

• Don't portray successful persons with disabilities as super human.
• Don't use general labels such as retarded, or the mentally ill.
• Don't use terms like crazy, lunatic, manic depressive, slow functioning or abnormal.

For more information regarding mental health and illness please contact
the Mental Health Information Center of South Africa at 021 938 9229
or the Depression and Anxiety Support Group at 011 783 1474/6.