Stigma and Mental Health

Did you know that one in five people in Canada will experience a mental illness each year, but almost half (49%) of those who feel they suffered from depression or anxiety won’t reach out for help? One of the most common reasons that individuals don’t reach out for help is stigma. In fact, individuals living with a mental health concern often say that the stigma they encounter regarding mental health is worse than the illness itself.

What is stigma?
Stigma is viewing a person, or a group of people, in a negative way because of an inaccurate and preconceived idea about that person, or that group of people. This negative stereotyping may lead to discrimination, either intentional or unintentional.

What is mental health?
It is important to recognize that everyone has mental health, and similarly to our physical health, our mental health may vary from day to day, week to week, or year to year, depending on the circumstances in our lives. Our mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being, and it affects how we think, feel and act. Mental illness can be described as disturbances in our mental health, and can be caused by a number of  factors, many of which are beyond our control.

How can we decrease the stigma surrounding mental health?
First, we can understand that everyone has mental health. And second, understand that people who are living with a mental health concern did not choose to have that concern, similar to how a person living with a physical health concern did not choose it. This brings us to our third point – language. The language we use is an important factor in reducing stigma. Some examples of outdated or stigmatizing language might include “someone is suffering from” as opposed to “someone who is living with” mental illness, or “someone who is bipolar”, as opposed to “someone who is living with bipolar disorder”. We would never say that “someone is cancer,” rather, we would say “someone is living with cancer”.

Media influence is incredibly important when it comes to reducing mental health stigma through the language we use and C.M.H.A. H.K.P.R. has been fortunate to work with media that have been so supportive. André Picard, a Health Columnist with the Globe and Mail, has also done some wonderful work with CMHA Ontario to create a document called Mindset. This document really helps to highlight some non-stigmatizing language that can be used when referring to people living with mental illness.

By using non-stigmatizing language, and working to reduce the stigma attached to mental health, people who are experiencing issues with their mental health may experience fewer barriers to accessing support. It is up to all of us to change the conversation around mental illness and ensure we are using language that is focused on the individual, rather than the illness. Another way we can help is to speak up if we hear someone else using stigmatizing language surrounding mental health.