Denise Marzullo, MBA, LMHC
President & CEO
Mental Health America of Northeast Florida
April 22, 2015
They don’t call me sad.
They don’t call me bad.
They don’t call me mad.
They don’t call me.
©William McKnight
Problem of knowledge =
Ignorance
Problem of attitudes =
Prejudice
Problem of behavior =
Discrimination
Stigma is a negative view of a group or a person based on a perception
about them
Often people living with a mental illness experience stigma as a result of
how they were perceived at a period when they were not well
Stigma is rarely the result of maliciousness toward the mentally ill
Stigma is perpetrated and fueled primarily by insensitivity and ignorance
Worse then the stigma received from others because of ignorance and
insensitivity, is the often self-stigmatizing those living with a mental illness
do to themselves
Negative attitudes toward people with mental illnesses have
persisted over time
>70% of population would
not want a person with
depression to marry into
their family
70% of respondents rated
people with schizophrenia
as dangerous
73% of characters with
mental illnesses in TV
dramas were portrayed as
violent
Only 19% of people said
they would be comfortable
around someone with a
mental illness
People with mental illness
are viewed more negatively
than are ex-convicts
TV is one of the main
sources of information on
stigma
Myth #1: Psychiatric disorders are not true medical illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. People who have a mental illness are just “crazy.”
Fact: Brain disorders, like heart disease and diabetes, are legitimate medical illnesses. Research shows there are genetic and biological causes for psychiatric disorders,
and they can be treated effectively.
Myth #2: People with a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, are usually dangerous and violent.
Fact: Statistics show that the incidence of violence in people who have a brain disorder is not much higher than it is in the general population. Those suffering from a
psychosis such as schizophrenia are more often frightened, confused and despairing than violent.
Myth #3: Mental illness is the result of bad parenting.
Fact: Most experts agree that a genetic susceptibility, combined with other risk factors, leads to a psychiatric disorder. In other words, mental illnesses have a physical
cause.
Myth #4: Depression results from a personality weakness or character flaw, and people who are depressed could just snap out of it if they tried hard enough.
Fact: Depression has nothing to do with being lazy or weak. It results from changes in brain chemistry or brain function, and medication and/or psychotherapy often help
people to recover.
Myth #5: Schizophrenia means split personality, and there is no way to control it.
Fact: Schizophrenia is often confused with multiple personality disorder. Actually, schizophrenia is a brain disorder that robs people of their ability to think clearly and
logically. The estimated 2.5 million Americans with schizophrenia have symptoms ranging from social withdrawal to hallucinations and delusions. Medication has helped
many of these individuals to lead fulfilling, productive lives.
Myth #6: Depression is a normal part of the aging process.
Fact: It is not normal for older adults to be depressed. Signs of depression in older people include a loss of interest in activities, sleep disturbances and lethargy.
Depression in the elderly is often undiagnosed, and it is important for seniors and their family members to recognize the problem and seek professional help.
Myth #7: Depression and other illnesses, such as anxiety disorders, do not affect children or adolescents. Any problems they have are just a part of growing
up.
Fact: Children and adolescents can develop severe mental illnesses. In the United States, one in ten children and adolescents has a mental disorder severe enough to
cause impairment. However, only about 20 percent of these children receive needed treatment. Left untreated, these problems can get worse. Anyone talking about
suicide should be taken very seriously.
Myth #8: If you have a mental illness, you can will it away. Being treated for a psychiatric disorder means an individual has in some way “failed” or is weak.
Fact: A serious mental illness cannot be willed away. Ignoring the problem does not make it go away, either. It takes courage to seek professional help.
Myth #9: Addiction is a lifestyle choice and shows a lack of willpower. People with a substance abuse problem are morally weak or “bad”.
Fact: Addiction is a disease that generally results from changes in brain chemistry. It has nothing to do with being a “bad” person.
Myth #10: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), formerly known as “shock treatment,” is painful and barbaric.
Fact: ECT has given a new lease on life to many people who suffer from severe and debilitating depression. It is used when other treatments such as psychotherapy or
medication fail or cannot be used. Patients who receive ECT are asleep and under anesthesia, so they do not feel anything.
One in every four Americans suffers from a diagnosable mental
illness in a given year
Statistics show that only one-fourth of these individuals seek
treatment
Four of the ten leading causes of disability worldwide are mental
illnesses
Mental illness does not discriminate – affects people of every
race, gender and economic background
Mental illness is a serious medical condition and must be treated
as such
Direct cost of mental health services in US is approx. $69 billion
What Is Mental Illness?
Mental illness is a term that refers to disorders that are characterized
by disturbances in thinking, mood, or behavior, or a combination
thereof, associated with distress or impaired functioning.
Mental illness can be caused by physical illnesses, biochemical
abnormalities in the brain function, stress and other environment
factors. Often a combination of these factors contributes to causing a
mental illness.
A person with a mental illness may complain of certain
symptoms. These are subjective feelings and sensations that
the person is aware of. The person may also show signs of
mental illness. These are objective observable behaviors that
the person demonstrates.
For example: A person may say: “I feel low, sad and depressed”.
These are symptoms of depression, and the person may look
very sad, and move and speak very slowly. These are signs of
depression.
The more symptoms and signs a person has, the more likely it is
that she/he has a mental illness. Remember that it is important
to obtain as much information as possible, both from the person
who may have a mental disorder and from other people (family
members, friends, community members).
Agitation: Because the symptoms of mental illness can
be very distressing, a person may become very agitated,
upset, and restless.
Anxiety: This is a very common symptom and sign of
many serious mental illnesses, including depression and
psychotic illnesses. The person may show signs of
excessive fear such as sweating, breathing very fast, and
being agitated.
Abnormal mood: In acute phases of mental illness,
there are unusual or extreme qualities to the person’s
mood. Moods can also change very quickly from a
reduced emotional response (indifference, apathy) to an
extreme of emotions (ecstasy or omnipotence).
Confusion: This is a general term and could mean that
the person is disoriented or incoherent (unable to
conduct an understandable conversation).
Incoherent speech: Persons with mental illness may not
be able to conduct a coherent conversation. Their
speech may ramble from one unrelated topic to
another, they may not be able to answer questions, and
they may also talk about things that are strange or
unrealistic or not speak at all.
Changes in eating and sleeping: A marked change can
also indicate a problem.
Unusual beliefs or delusions: A person with a mental illness may
have strange beliefs and ideas, such as someone trying to destroy
them or that they have special powers, or that they are being
persecuted or threatened in some way (being poisoned, followed,
under threat of assassination). Sometimes it is not possible to
know whether these beliefs are true, unless one has additional
information from others.
Hallucinations: Sometimes persons with mental illness experience
disturbances in sensory perception (of sight, hearing, smell, taste
or touch); they may say that they are hearing voices or that they
are feeling things in their body.
Aggression or violent behavior: Although most people with a
mental illness do not become aggressive, some may do so, and
such persons can display any type of aggression (verbal, physical).
Appearance: In an advanced stage a person with mental disorder
may look neglected, unwashed or may not have changed their
clothes for sometime, or may be dressed strangely.
Other unusual behavior: The person may be wandering in the
streets, appear to be homeless, may also walk into direct traffic,
shout in the street and become verbally abusive or aggressive to
bystanders.
Adjustment Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Dissociative Disorders
Eating Disorders
Impulse-Control Disorders
Mood Disorders
Personality Disorders
Psychotic Disorders
Sexual Disorders
Sleep Disorders
Somatoform Disorders
Substance Disorders
Reluctance to seek help or treatment
Lack of understanding by family, friends, co-workers or others
you know
Fewer opportunities for work, school or social activities or
trouble finding housing
Bullying, physical violence or harassment
Health insurance that doesn’t adequately cover your mental
illness treatment
The belief that you will never be able to succeed at certain
challenges or that you can’t improve your situation
Adverse reactions by family – ex. lazy and weak
Negative reactions to family members
High rates of homelessness
Neighborhood reactions to residential care
Loss of husband/wife/partner
Disappearance of friends
Impaired long-term sexual relationships
Get Treatment
You may be reluctant to admit you need treatment. Don't let the
fear of being labeled with a mental illness prevent you from seeking
help. Treatment can provide relief by identifying what's wrong and
reducing symptoms that interfere with your work and personal life.
Don’t Let Stigma Create Self-Doubt and Shame
Stigma doesn't just come from others. You may mistakenly believe
that your condition is a sign of personal weakness or that you
should be able to control it without help. Seeking psychological
counseling, educating yourself about your condition and
connecting with others with mental illness can help you gain selfesteem and overcome destructive self-judgment.
Don’t Isolate Yourself
If you have a mental illness, you may be reluctant to tell anyone
about it. Your family, friends, clergy or members of your community
can offer you support if they know about your mental illness. Reach
out to people you trust for the compassion, support and
understanding you need.
Don’t Equate Yourself with Your Illness
You are not an illness. So instead of saying "I'm bipolar," say "I have
bipolar disorder." Instead of calling yourself "a schizophrenic," say
"I have schizophrenia."
Join a Support Group
Some local and national groups, such as the National Alliance on
Mental Illness (NAMI), offer local programs and Internet resources
that help reduce stigma by educating people with mental illness,
their families and the general public. Some state and federal
agencies and programs, such as those that focus on vocational
rehabilitation or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), offer
support for people with mental health conditions.
Get Help at School
If you or your child has a mental illness that affects learning, find
out what plans and programs might help. Talk to teachers,
professors or administrators about the best approach and
resources. If a teacher doesn't know about a student's disability, it
can lead to discrimination, barriers to learning and poor grades.
Speak Out Against Stigma
Consider expressing your opinions at events, in letters to the editor
or on the Internet. It can help instill courage in others facing similar
challenges and educate the public about mental illness.
Mental Health America of Northeast Florida
(904) 738-8426
www.mhajax.org
Email: denise@mhajax.org