Page 5 - Vision Manual

How to Respond to Stigma
First and foremost, educate yourself. Knowledge and understanding are the main tools to use to reduce and respond to stigma. In order to use these tools, it requires you to learn about stigma and mental health. You can do this in a number of ways. Independent research and study on the web can be useful, so long as you are sticking to reputable sources of information. Sources like this might include the National Alliance on Mental Illness (www.nami.org), the National Institute for Mental Health (www.nimh.gov) and the World Health Organization (www.who.int) are wonderful sources of reputable information. You can also attend support group and education meetings hosted by NAMI or other similar local organizations to learn more and get support. These resources may also help with reducing Self Stigma. A better understanding of the disorder you are diagnosed with might lead to a better understanding, and acceptance, of yourself.
It’s also important to understand how information about mental illnesses is disseminated, and how the media and other sources wrongfully frames mental illness in sensational, exaggerated ways. Learning common myths about mental illness can help you to be prepared to counter them when they occur. It’s also important to monitor your own experiences with the media and how they portray mental health, and to avoid getting ‘sucked in’ with exploitative or sensational stories that might wrongly change your perspective.
Once educated, there are a number of different tactics you can take. You can choose to confront and challenge misinformation or erroneous beliefs without disclosing personal information. A friend might post on Facebook or say something to the effect of “People with mental illness are so dangerous.” You might choose to challenge this by posting some data or reflecting some research that indicates that people with mental illness are actually more likely to be victims than aggressors. You might share how the media sensationalizes or focuses too much on one case and does not present a fair, balanced perspective on mental illness. Remember that when challenging incorrect information, it’s really important to not engage in arguments or fighting, but to try and be gentle. People tend to be resistant to being told that they are outright wrong.
If you know the person well, or feel safe in doing so, you might want to consider selective disclosure as a way of challenging stigma. Disclosing information about your own experience with symptoms and mental health is a personal decision. It’s important to think about the pros and cons of sharing information and what risks might be involved. With these things considered, it’s also important to know that personal stories and selective disclosure can have a lot of weight to it and be more convincing to some.
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