Are Some Mental Illnesses More Stigmatized Than Others?
Recently I sat on a panel of mental health consumers. Our goal was to educate people about mental health through drama and a question-and-answer session. When it came my turn to speak, I said that some mental illnesses were more stigmatized than others, fully knowing this would be controversial. Much to my surprise, I saw several heads nodding in agreement!
The Three Most Stigmatized Mental Illnesses
Another person on the panel said that the three most stigmatized mental illnesses were schizophrenia, dissociative identity disorder, and borderline personality disorder (BPD). Based on my experience, I would agree. In journalism, it's okay to suffer from depression or bipolar disorder. Many journalists have come forward about their diagnosis with one of these disorders.
BPD, however, remains taboo. Very few people have come forward about a diagnosis of BPD; Brandon Marshall is a notable exception. Most celebrities with a diagnosis of BPD are self-injurers who have been open about their self-injury but not their diagnosis.
BPD is even stigmatized among mental health professionals. I remember becoming acutely suicidal while at Richmond State Hospital. I told staff and showed them my note--they did nothing. After my attempt and a subsequent battle to see the doctor, I got my answer as to why I was ignored. "We had another borderline here and every other word out of her mouth was suicide, so we just assumed you were the same way."
Even more recently, I was at the hospital to be evaluated for self-harm ideation. The crisis counselor told me "That's your baseline, Rebecca. So what do you want me to do?"
Public Perception and Stigmatized Mental Illnesses
Recently one of my analogies was ruined by Halloween. Some costumes have a "violent psych patient" theme, and haunted mental institutions are also popular. I used to say that we wouldn't have a "violent cancer patient" or "haunted heart disease ward". Then someone came out with the "sexy Ebola nurse" costume.
But the difference is there's been a major public outcry over "sexy Ebola nurse." I'm still waiting for the same outrage over the blatant mental illness stigma.
On the TV show X-Men, a recurring line is "People fear what they don't understand." That's part of the problem--most of our "education" about mental illness comes from the media, not from doctors. As a result, perception is warped.
For example, according to a National Mental Health Association (NMHA) survey,
- only 27% of the general public believes that successful treatment exists for schizophrenia, compared to 47% of caregivers and 58% of people with schizophrenia.
- Fifty percent of the general population thinks people with depression can hold jobs and 49% of the general population thinks people with depression can raise families,
- but only 14% of the general public feels that a person with schizophrenia can do either.
Sadly, I don't have the statistics for borderline personality disorder.
How to Handle Stigmatized Mental Illnesses
According to National Alliance on Mental Illness of Indiana, Dr. Otto Wahl of George Mason University has the following 10 suggestions:
- Learn more about mental illness. Knowledge is power.
- Talk to individuals who have experienced mental illness. Many can share stories of what is stigmatizing, how stigma affects them, and how they would like to be treated.
- Avoid using stigmatizing language, such as “nutcase,” “lunatic,” “maniac,” “psycho,” etc. Also, avoid using depersonalizing language. Refer to a person as “a person with” instead of just by their diagnoses. For example, “person with BPD” instead of “borderline.”
- Monitor the media. NAMI StigmaBusters, the NMHA, and the National Stigma Clearinghouse protest such material by contacting the people responsible for the material. Consider joining one of these organizations.
- Respond to stigmatizing material in the media.
- Speak out about stigma. Educate others. Silence is often complicity.
- Talk candidly about mental illness. How can we fight stigma if we don’t address the issue?
- Demand change from elected officials.
- Support stigma-fighting organizations. Even if you can’t contribute financially, encouraging mail could help.
- Contribute to research. If mental illness can be understood and treated, stigma will be reduced.
Fighting stigma is up to us. And we can start by helping people understand that there should not be degrees of stigma toward mental illness.
You can also find Becky Oberg on Google+, Facebook and Twitter and Linkedin.
APA Reference
Oberg, B.
(2014, October 28). Are Some Mental Illnesses More Stigmatized Than Others?, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, November 21 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/borderline/2014/10/are-some-mental-illnesses-more-stigmatized-than-others
Author: Becky Oberg
I agree with most of this. However, as someone with bipolar with a lot of friends who also have bipolar, I absolutely disagree that people think it’s “okay” to have bipolar disorder (either type). Depression, sure. Bipolar, really? It’s one of the most stigmatized mental health disorders along with BPD and schizophrenia and should be taken more seriously. Anywhere from the way it’s portrayed on TV and in movies, where the character is typically hopeless and/or violent and a manipulative, bad person; to the assumptions people make about the illness. I have never once heard someone say “that chick is borderline” (i.e., that’s not to take away the fact that out of all illnesses BPD is the most stigmatized, because it is), however, I hear “that chick is bipolar” ALL the time. It’s especially used in a misogynistic manner to degrade or discredit women. It adds a layer of mistruth to the reality of what bipolar disorder is in all actuality. So, in short, no it’s not perceived to be “okay” to have bipolar disorder, especially when accompanied by psychotic features (type 2) and I find it a bit degrading (i.e, to whomever wrote this article) that you would assert something so evidently misleading and untrue.
If people want to compare it to any other disease/disorder, rather than a series of maladaptive traits many of us suffer from, just maybe not to the same extreme, it would still be required of the person to figure out what's wrong, accept the diagnosis and then do whatever it takes to heal.
For example, if I find a lump and then find out I have cancer, and I rage at everyone around me, but expect to be excused because I have a disease, I would hope I'd realize that that behavior isn't okay and I can't continue to blame my disease for my behaviors.
It might surprise people with BPD, that those of us in line of fire, often for doing something completely normal like closing the door to the bathroom, not only suffer the rage from such normal actions, but no one believes us if we explain what goes on. That's usually because of the charming exterior the rest of the world sees.
The difference here is that usually the non is not demanding the BPD change. But the BPD is usually demanding everyone else changes. We all have lumps to suffer. Once you start comparing pains, we're on a slippery slope.
This is incredibly frustrating, because, as someone who suffers with BPD myself, I have gone through stages. If someone with cancer rages out on people, it is their responsibility to reap the consequences. Similarly with me, when I have lashed out, I ALWAYS take responsibility, apologize, and see if there is anything I can do to rectify the situation.
I have been in treatment for 6 years, and my disorder almost killed me several times. It broke my heart when licensed doctors and professionals would look at my diagnosis and say, "You are too high risk" or "I don't specialize/treat/deal with BPD".
I find it infuriating when I am blamed for anger that is normal and justified as well.
I honestly regret ever admitting or accepting this diagnosis.
Chris, are you saying there are no mental health workers that will take Medicare patients? If that is so, their bottom line is money and not the patient. For your sake and all others in your situation, I hope you/all find a mental health professional that will care about you more than the money. Good luck and best wishes.
From people with no experience with mental illness I have heard them respond to anything that has "personality disorder" attached as if it is something that is just a flaw of character. They don't see that as a mental illness so much. They don't understand what people with the disorders go through. They tend to think that if the "flaws" were pointed out they could just stop them. It being called a personality disorder creates part of the problem.
I agree with the statement that DID is one of the most stigmatized mental illnesses. It's even hard to get proper care from professionals if you tell them about your diagnosis. Makes just getting by in the world really hard.
I doubt you are a problem in the world. The world is simply problematic.
I have 2 of the 3 and cannot get help where I live. Nobody works with BPD/DID on Medicare. I have given up hope basically. One day, I'll just be gone and be one less problem in the world.