EMILIE TRANSUE
THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS On a website sponsored by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Kevin Coyle writes “Losing control of your mind, of your very being is a scary thing. It impacts and influences everything: how you act and what you believe. I never thought it would happen to me.”1 Even though he never thought it would happen to him, mental health issues are strikingly common. In one year, the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that one in four adults experiences mental illness and as do 20% of children aged 13-20. To put that into perspective, this totals 61.5 million adult Americans.2 Even with such a high incidence in the United States, Kevin recalls “Socially I felt very alone. I felt like I was hiding a big secret that I couldn’t let others know.” The National Alliance on Mental Illness defines mental illness as “a medical condition that disrupts a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning.”2 Just as someone cannot “just get over” their cancer, a mental illness is not something to be brushed off lightly. Serious mental illness costs America $193.2 billion in lost earnings per year. On the individualistic level, adults with serious mental illness die on average 25 years earlier than other Americans. In fact, among youths ages 15-24, depression and mood disorders are the third leading cause of death.2 Society plays a role behind these shocking statistics. The negative attitude towards mental illness and the lack of understanding of mental illness creates a stigma so powerful that only 38% of adults with diagnosable mental health problems receive the treatment they need. In children and youths, that number drops to 20%.3 A study published in Fall 2013 investigated this stigma and the attitudes toward mental illness. Participants were asked to agree or disagree (along a scale) with the following statements: “Treatment can help people with mental illness lead normal lives” and “People are generally caring and sympathetic
to people with mental illness.” Interestingly, 67% of adults strongly agreed that treatment is effective, but only about 23% of adults strongly agreed that people are caring and sympathetic to those with mental illnesses. The stigma was further highlighted by those currently receiving mental illness treatment: only 17% strongly agreed that people are caring and sympathetic to people with mental illness.4 As SAMSHA notes, “Stigma leads others to avoid living, socializing, or working with, renting to, or employing people with mental disorders.”1 The administration explains how the stigma further leads to a decline in selfesteem and pushes people to feel ashamed of their condition, causing them to hide their symptoms. It is highly likely that you will know someone struggling with a mental illness at some point in your life. Instead of judging these individuals and adding to their distress, one should give them the support they require and direct them to appropriate resources. There are a number of organizations here at Rutgers that provide mental health services for students and faculty. Many students know about Counseling, Alcohol, and Other Drug Assistance Program and Psychiatric Services (CAPS). This foundation’s mission is to enable access for students to services that range from individual counseling to outreach initiatives to training programs.5 A less-known and recently founded organization that boosts awareness of eating disorders and advocates a positive body is Project Heal.6 No one should be made to feel too embarrassed or afraid to seek the help they need. References 1 Coyle, K. A Deaf Recovery Story. SAMHSA’s Resource Center to Promote Acceptance, Dignity and Social Inclusion Associated with Mental Health (ADS Center). Retrieved from http://promoteacceptance. samhsa.gov/publications/mystory/story_kevin.aspx 2 National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2013) Mental Illness Fact Sheet. Retrieved from http://www.nami. org/factsheets/mentalillness_factsheet.pdf 3 MentalHealth.gov. Myths and Facts. Retrieved from http://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/myths-facts/ index.html 4 Kobau, R., Zack, M. (2013). Attitudes Toward Mental Illness in Adults by Mental Illness–Related Factors and Chronic Disease Status: 2007 and 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. American Journal of Public Health. Retrieved from http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/ AJPH.2013.301321 5 CAPS. (2013). Rutgers Health Services New Brunswick. Retrieved from http://rhscaps.rutgers.edu/general-information6 Find an Organization. (2013). Rutgers Student Life New Brunswick. Retrieved from http://getinvolved.rutgers.edu/organizations/find-an-organization/?page=12 Image from http://segment.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/mental-illness-art-a3ce9bb6a9a7cdbc.jpg
7