Stigma and Discrimination in Mental Health

Nursing and Mental
Health Essay

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Stigma and discrimination for people with mental illness.....................................................1
Historical factors, types and causes of stigma and discrimination.........................................1
Legislative framework and standards relevant to support the reduction of stigma and
discrimination.........................................................................................................................2
Mental health nurse’s roles and interventions to reduce stigma and discrimination for people
living with mental illness........................................................................................................2
Consumer’s and carer’s perspective lived experience............................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Mental health refers behavioural and emotional well-being as how people think and
behave Pilgrim, (2019). This study is going to show stigma and discrimination or negative
treatment which society do with people with mental illness. It will also show some nursing
intervention and practices which can reduce stigma with mental illness people.
MAIN BODY
Stigma and discrimination for people with mental illness
Stigma refers negative behaviour or unfair beliefs which people or society have about
something specially for those who are suffering from mental illness. According to the Rayson &
Alba, (2019). stigma in mental illness refers behaviour of normal people when they see mental
illness of people in a negative way. On the other hand, discrimination occurs when someone of
societies treat person in a negative way because of their mental illness or their different
behaviours. In addition, they also stated that social stigma or negative behaviours of societies can
make mental health problems even worse and can also stop that person from getting an effective
healthcare services and improving their health as well.
On the other hand, Thornicroft & et.al. (2019) said that stigma in mental illness occurs
when societies or a group of people behave someone by their illness rather than what they are in
actual or as an individual. It creates several changes in their behaviour. People who are suffering
from mental illness, social stigma or negative behaviour or discrimination make their problems
worse and also create several barriers in improving or recovering health.
Historical factors, types and causes of stigma and discrimination
There are several factors and causes which are associated with discrimination and stigma
such as: lack of awareness, education, and lack of perception and complication of mental illness.
According to the Moroz & Vorozhbyt, (2018) lack of knowledge is one of the main problem by
which some cultures and people of societies cannot understand that it is a normal disease and
people are also normal. In addition, they also said that cultural attitudes towards mental illness
are other main reasons which vary among families, cultures which shape their mentality.
As per the views of Sheehan, Nieweglowski & Corrigan, (2017) stigma is one of the
main problems. It has 2 types such as: social stigma and self stigma. Social or public stigma can
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