Stigma and Discrimination on Individuals With Mental Illness in Australia

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH
STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION ON INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS IN
AUSTRALIA
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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MENTAL HEALTH
Introduction
The patients with mental disorders often face some problems such as discrimination,
isolation and stigma. The stigma is when people see a mentally ill person within a negative way,
and the discrimination defines when other people treat a person with mental health problem
differently and separate them from society. The rate of self-stigma among mental illness patients
was 36% in the USA. The report has published that 42% of people are under moderate to high
levels of stigma with schizophrenia and 70% of people reported moderate to high levels of
observed discrimination (SANE Australia, 2013). This paper will shed light on the effects of
stigma on personnel diagnosed with mental illness. In this regard, the paper will also confer the
historical factors, types and causes of stigma and discrimination. It will incorporate legislative
framework and standards to reduce the stigma and discrimination and particularly the role of
nurses and possible interventions to reducing this discrimination and stigma in the person living
with mental illness.
Definition and describe stigma and discrimination for consumers living with mental
illness
Stigma is described when society or other personnel negatively treat a person due to some
special reason such as mental illness. When the reason behind this negative treatment is provided
to a person due to mental illness, it is termed as discrimination. Stigma is described when an
individual is identified by their sickness rather than a human. The people with mental disorder
facing discrimination and stigma often face difficulties in recovery and make the condition

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MENTAL HEALTH
worse. In some cases, it can cause that patient refusing the treatment or help due to being
stigmatized (Victoria State Government, 2015).
Historical factors, types and causes of stigma and discrimination
The first concept of stigma related to mental disorders was first established in the middle
of the 20th century and then first hypothetically and gradually acknowledged in the 1970s
(Rössler, 2016). Two types of stigma are present related to mental sickness. One is a personal
stigma, and another is social stigma. Personal stigma is involved with perceived stigma, self-
stigma and experienced stigma. Perceived stigma is the observed attitudes or beliefs of the
society towards them. Social stigma defines the discrimination that the normal people perform on
them, thus lowering their self-esteem, self-confidence and yields low self-efficacy among the
patient. There are many reasons associated with stigma and discrimination. The stigma and
discrimination happen due to mental illness, other infected diseases like HIV and another non-
infected disease like cancer.
Legislative Frameworks and Standards that are relevant to support the reduction
of stigma and discrimination
One of the effective methods related to reducing stigma includes social contact,
particularly different forms of social contact, including Allport’s four optimal contact conditions.
This involves work towards a common goal, equal status, cooperation and support from
authorities. The contact-based technique includes individual sharing their own lived experience
of mental health problems and recovery can decrease anxiety, enhance personal relationships and
understanding and improve empathy. This contact-based intervention for healthcare givers
provides a model recovery of the patient (Ungar, Knaak & Szeto, 2016). The Victorian Equal