Author's Note: Stigma and Discrimination

Running head: STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION
Stigma and Discrimination
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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

2STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION
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