Mental Health Stigma Is Discrimination

Mental health stigma is discrimination. According to the US Surgeon General, stigma is the number one barrier to treatment. This stigma can lead to people with a brain disorder being denied jobs, housing, and services. For example, I was once asked about my mental illness during a job interview and was denied the job even though I had two years of experience and excellent references. I also was discharged from the military after being diagnosed with mental illness. Stigma is really a fancy word for discrimination. The good news is it is possible to overcome this stigma through education. The best way to educate people about the reality of mental illness is by being open about our struggles. The more people interact with us and see we're just like everyone else, the more people will understand and the more open-minded and accepting they'll become.

People fear what they don't understand, and there is a lot of ignorance about mental illness. In this video, I talk about how mental health stigma is discrimination and how to overcome it.

You can also find Becky Oberg on Google+, Facebook and Twitter and Linkedin. Her ebook, Comforting Tamar, is available on Amazon.