Author's Note: Stigma and Discrimination

Running head: STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION
Stigma and Discrimination
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION
Brouwers et al. (2016) have stated that discrimination refers to the prejudicial or
unjust treatment that the people have to suffer because of their social or cultural background,
health condition, sexual orientation and others (p. e009961). Phalen et al. (2018) are of the
viewpoint that the prominence held by the concept of mental health can be attributed to the
fact that the health of an individual is directly related to the normal life-functioning of the
human beings and also their ability to fulfil the different roles of their lives in an effective
(p.77). The problem of mental illness had been looked down upon by the human society since
the traditional times and also the people suffering from it had to face discrimination and
stigma within the society. This paper will discuss the stigma and discrimination faced by the
people suffering from mental illnesses in the Australian society while highlighting the
different measures which have been taken by the Australian government for the mitigation
for the same.
Vistorte et al. (2018) are of the viewpoint that the different people in Australia hold
diverse opinions regarding the mental illnesses and the opinion held by them can be
explained on the basis of the culture, religion and other attributes of their life (p. 329). For
example, since the traditional times the idea that mental illnesses are the result of the past evil
actions which the concerned individual have performed reigned prominence (Rozbroj et al.,
2015, p. 11). On the other hand, the Bible itself mentions various instances during which
Christ himself is depicted as exorcising demons out of the bodies of the individuals which in
turn are symbolical representation of the diverse kinds of mental health illnesses (Krupchanka
& Thornicroft, 2017, p.129). However, in the recent times with the advancements in the
fields of science and technology the attitude as well as the perception of the people had
undergone a significant amount of change (Hungerford et al., 2018, p. 53). The net result of
this is that the different forms of mental illnesses are no longer seen as a representation of

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evils but as the manifestation of diverse mental issues that the individuals which the
individuals are facing just like the other forms of illness.
The change in the perception of the people had been greatly brought about by the
‘Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan’, ‘National Mental Health Policy’
(2008) and other initiatives of the national government of Australia. For example, the
‘National Mental Health Policy 2008’ intends to provide a strategic vision for the effective
implementation of different government reforms regarding the mental health in Australia
(Health.gov.au, 2019). On the other hand, the ‘Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide
Prevention Plan’ intended to implement new reforms for the reduction of suicides undertaken
by the mental health patients brought in by stigma or discrimination that the mental illness
patients had to face (Health.gov.au, 2019). In addition to these, it is seen that the mental
health issues like anxiety, clinical depression and others are among high prevalence in the
Australian people whereas the mental health issues of schizophrenia and others are less in
prevalence. As a matter of fact, as per the Beyondblue.org.au (2019) more than 45% of the
people in Australia suffer from one form of mental illness or the other. Clinical depression is
one of the major forms of mental illnesses that afflict the majority of the people in Australia
(Taubman et al., 2019, p.29). As a matter of fact, it is seen that depression is the 3rd most
prominent mental health issue in Australia and is usually accompanied by intense as well as
regular periods of sadness, mood swings, low feeling for prolonged periods of time without
any apparent cause (Health.gov.au, 2019).
Alley et al. (2017) have articulated the viewpoint that the people suffering from
depression and other forms of mental illnesses had to face various kinds of discrimination as
well as stigma within the society (p.19). Furthermore, it is seen till now any substantial
measuring tool had not been developed for the measurement of discrimination or stigma
faced by the individuals. More importantly, it is seen that these discriminations and stigmas

3STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION
are not just associated with societal behaviours or individual behaviours but extent to other
walks of life as well (Fulford et al., 2016, p.19). For example, it is seen that the people
suffering from depression are being looked down upon in their workplaces and also had to
face unjust treatment and adequate amount or number of growth opportunities are not being
offered to them. In addition to this, the people suffering from depression or other forms of
mental health issues are generally being seen as retards which is actually not true and thereby
ostracised from the main stream of population (Wong et al., 2018, p.261). In this regard, it
needs to be said that the individuals suffering from the problem of mental illness are
generally being looked down upon by the people and rather than seen as suffering from some
kind of disease are seen as mentally retarded. Needless to say, that the treatment which these
individuals have to face is very different from the kind of treatment that the people suffering
from other kinds of physical or health problems have to face within the societal framework of
Australia. Furthermore, it is seen that many times people start to show undue or uncalled for
sympathy for these people and this in turn affects their psychology or mental wellbeing in a
significant manner. The net result of this is that the people suffering from various kinds of
mental health issues rather than opening up to people as well as bonding with them and
discuss their problems, start to withdraw from society and turn to self-destructive measures
like substance abuse, suicide and others (Rubio-Valera et al., 2018, p.171). This is perhaps
one of the major reasons why ‘12.5 per 100,000’ suffering from mental health issues commit
suicide because of the lack of support as well as help that they get from their peers or family
members or for that matter from the society and also the stigma or discrimination that they
have to face (Health.gov.au, 2019).
As opined by Meurk et al. (2016), mental health issues are just like any other disease
and the people suffering from it need the support as well as medical attention that the people
suffering from other diseases need (p. 11). However, in the majority of the cases it is seen

4STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION
that rather than help or support the people suffering from mental illnesses had to face
discrimination or stigma at the hands of the very people that had expected to get support or
help (Cruwys & Gunaseelan, 2016, p.39). This discrimination or stigma that the people
suffering from mental illnesses face in turn leads to an aggravated stage wherein the patients
start to lose touch with the human society and thereby resort to the usage of violent measures.
There are various symptoms associated with the mental illnesses like trouble sleeping, loose
of interest in favourite activities, appetite change, increased energy, touchiness, emergence of
a dark side and others (Reavley et al., 2018, p.291). More importantly, it is seen that there are
various risks associated with the mental illness as well. For example, in the extreme cases it is
seen that the patients become suicidal, resort to substance abuse, complete withdrawal from
society, develop schizophrenia and others which can not only be harmful for the patients but
also for the people who are associated with them (Meiser et al., 2017, p.320).
In the present times it is seen that the psychologists are resorting to the usage of
different kinds of assessments for the detection of the mental illnesses. These assessment
models require the psychologists to analyse the behaviour, lifestyle, attitude, speech,
perception, judgement and other attributes of the patients to decide whether the individuals
are suffering from depression or not (Mulay et al., 2016, p.371). It is pertinent to note that
this approach is completely different from the earlier approaches adopted by the
psychologists who used to taken into consideration only the cognition or the mental state of
the patients. More importantly, it is seen that the kind of stigma or discrimination which these
individuals have to face within the society are also being taken into consideration within the
assessments as well as the treatment measures adopted by the psychologists or councillors
(Ye et al., 2016, p. 535).
William Anthony, Director of the Boston Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation in his
1993 speech said “Recovery is a deeply personal, unique process of changing one's attitudes,

5STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION
values, feelings, goals, skills and/or roles….one's life as one grows beyond the catastrophic
effects of mental illness” (McNair & Bush, 2016, p.209). This holds true for the mental
health issues as well wherein it is seen that the recovery time as well as the method differs
from patient to patient. For example, in some of the cases it is seen that psychiatric sessions
work for the recovery of the patients whereas in others it is seen that along with psychiatric
sessions prescription of drugs is also needed (Rozbroj et al., 2015, p.29). In addition to this,
personal as well as social care is needed in almost all the cases of mental illnesses since the
ability of the depression patients to recover from mental health issues depend greatly on the
kind of social care that they get (Thornicroft et al., 2016, p.1123). More importantly, in the
recent times it is seen that the Australian government had come forward with various
measures like “A national framework for recovery-oriented mental health services: Guide for
practitioners and providers”, “A national framework for recovery-oriented mental health
services: Policy and theory” and others (Health.gov.au, 2019). These frameworks or model
are intended to improve the quality of treatment or care which is being offered to the people
suffering from depression by making the minimum qualifications required for psychologists
more stringent. However, at the same time it needs to be said that the discrimination as well
as the stigma that the patients have to face within the framework of the society affects their
recovery process in a significant manner. In this regard, it needs to be said that the people
suffering from the different kinds of mental illnesses require the support as well as the care of
their family members and family however in the majority of the cases it is seen that these are
the very people from whom they had to face discrimination or stigma because of their mental
condition (Alley et al., 2017, p.14).
The Australian government have given various stipulations regarding the manner in
which the mental health patients need to be treated within the society of Australia. In this
regard, it needs to be said that the Australian government had given strict mandate that the

6STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION
psychologists as well as the care givers are required to treat the patients suffering from
mental health issues with respect and dignity, protect the privacy of their information of the
patients and others (Rubio-Valera et al., 2018, p.171). In addition to these, the hospitals,
psychologists, care givers and others are required to follow the various Australian legislations
and UN precepts like “Fundamental Freedoms and Basic Rights (UN Principle 1)”,
“Voluntary Admissions (UN Principle 15)”, “Community Treatment (UN Principles 3,7 and
9)”, “Standards of Care and Allocation of Resources (UN Principles 8,10 and 14) and others
in addition to the Anti-Discrimination Act, ASC Code of Ethics and others (Health.gov.au,
2019).
The above mentioned policies and legislations intend to bring about a change by not
only improving the quality of treatment which is being offered to them but societal outlook
towards them as well. Furthermore, the care givers also play an integral role within the
quality of treatment services which are being offered to the patients. For example, they are
required to take into effective consideration the cultural background of the patients, the needs
and social background of the patients while offering personalised care to the patients (Alley
et al., 2017, p.21). Furthermore, these policies and legislations have greatly reduced the
amount of discrimination or stigma that the mental patients had to face but at the same time it
needs to be said that there still exists many gaps. For example, most of the time it is seen
because of lack of governmental intervention these policies or legislations are rarely being
followed by the care-givers and healthcare professionals.
To conclude, the mental health problems have emerged as one of the major health
problems that the majority of the people in Australia are suffering from presently. More
important that the problem of mental health issues itself these individuals had to face stigma
as well as discrimination at the hands of the society. Furthermore, it is seen that the
discrimination or the stigmatisation which these individuals have to face not only enhances

7STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION
the gravity of the mental health issue but at the same time hinders them to fulfil the basic
psychosocial needs of theirs. In this regard, the national government of Australia had taken
various initiatives and also passed various guidelines for the psychologists and care givers to
ensure that these individuals do not have to face discrimination but at the same time ensure
that high quality treatment services are being offered to them.

8STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION
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