Stigma.

Don’t get me wrong, the stigma related to mental illness is much better than it has been, but there is still so much work to be done. This is especially the case when it comes to less common mental illnesses.

Now I could talk about this topic with statistics. For example research commissioned by Time to Change showed that ‘74% of people with experience of a less common mental health problem said fear of stigma and discrimination stops them from doing the things they want to do’ and ‘84% of people with experience of a mental health problem don’t believe perceptions of less common conditions have improved in the last 10 years’. However, I’m actually going to talk about personal experiences instead because I feel that statistics can often make you forget about the person.

It took me a while to try to get help for my mental health. I waited until it was almost too late and this was partially due to stigma. I had heard that self-harming was attention-seeking, that only emaciated people could have eating disorders, that having suicidal thoughts meant amounting to nothing. Now I know this is not the case but that doesn’t mean I don’t still struggle with these ideas.

My awareness of the stigma increased after being diagnosed as I began to see it from mental health professionals too. I noticed how they would talk (and complain) about people with certain illnesses and symptoms. I saw how their attitudes changed once they believed you were just another ‘self-harmer’ and their unwillingness to even try to be understanding.

In addition, these professionals, as well as information online, perpetuated my own self-stigma. I started to think that maybe I am manipulative, attention-seeking, unlikable, impossible to work with and unworthy of treatment. Frankly I still struggle with these thoughts today but now I’m beginning to see that what I feel is valid and, despite what people say, I am trying.

I believe the foundation of stigma is ignorance. With more understanding and empathy, we can work towards a stigma free society.

https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/news/people-less-common-mental-health-problems-are-being-%E2%80%98left-behind%E2%80%99-progress-being-made-to