Survey reveals mental health stigma

MedWire News: Most people with mental health problems have experienced stigma and discrimination, survey results show.

Furthermore, stigma has a significant impact on the daily lives of people with mental health issues, reports the mental health charity Rethink.

Researchers from Rethink surveyed more than 3000 people with mental health problems about the stigma and discrimination they face, and from which groups they experience the greatest levels of stigma.

The survey revealed that nine out of 10 respondents reported experiencing stigma and discrimination because of their condition.

Of these, two thirds said that stigma had prevented them from doing everyday things, such as socialising, shopping and applying for jobs. Indeed, some respondents reported that stigma had even prevented them from reporting crimes.

The survey also revealed that, surprisingly, the greatest levels of stigma came from close family members, reported by 36% of respondents, closely followed by employers (35%), neighbours and other people in the local community (31%) and friends (25%).

Participants reported that the lowest levels of stigma came from young children (5%), teachers (8%), public transport workers (10%) and elderly people (12%).

Survey respondent Janey Antoniou, who has schizophrenia, recalled one example of the stigma she encountered: "I had a neighbour who used to run inside when she saw me because she had once seen me taken to the hospital by the police in my dressing gown. The fact that I'd walked down the road with a briefcase thousands of times seemed irrelevant."
Commenting on the findings, Paul Corry, Rethink's director of public affairs, said: "Our research clearly shows that stigma and discrimination are ruining people's lives.
"People with mental health problems have enough on their plates without facing additional pressure caused by other people's archaic and bigoted opinions."

He added that the findings will play a part in a major UK mental health anti-stigma campaign that will be launched in January 2009.

"The Moving People anti-stigma campaign will lay firm foundations for ending mental health discrimination in the UK, but long term it is essential that the government ploughs hefty resources into tackling the problem, as has been done in Scotland and New Zealand," said Corry.
"As an employer, the government could also lead by example and employ more people with mental health problems within its departments, and encourage other public sector bodies to do the same."