Lived Experience Forum

[Access]

Stigma is embedded in lives of all people with mental health problems and illness, their families and friends, their work colleagues and members who are being socially responsible in the community.  Historical factors of the treatment of people with mental health problems is largely the reason the fear members of the community hold today.  When people had mental health problems prior to the 1970's they were institutionalised in asylums or psychiatric facilities and deemed unfit for social circumstance. Today, media representations perpetuate fears in the community and their portrayals in most circumstances deem people with mental illness as 'unsafe'. In doing so, these misrepresentations dehumanise, marginalise and isolate people with mental illness whereby the fundamental problem still remains that people with mental health issues continue to find stigma in the community.  In this respect, although community attitudes have changed, have society come much further than isolating people with mental health issues in institutions. If people in the community are now treated and managed in the community, should these milestones be better conceived by the community instead of living in a historical context.

Often there is also misrepresentation of people with mental illness due to the historical episodes of illness. When people are symptomatic with an illness, the consequences of behaviours often leave those in that position unable to work, socialise or provide adequate care for themselves. Once people recover from going through this, stigma and bias are the two biggest hurdles people face. Many in the community question the person’s ability with the mental illness to manage everyday life, in so hindering recovery process.  Mental illness is such a disabling process, it's unfair, and does not need to be that way.  I understand why professionals relate to mental illness as a social disease, so much of the community conception hinders any real chance of inclusion.

[Zoe7]

While I totally agree that society still stigmatises and misrepresents people with mental illnesses @Access I also do not believe that ALL mental illnesses are done so all the time. There is a more general knowledge and acceptance of depression and anxiety for example whereas a large amount of stigma still exists with illnesses such as schizophrenia. There is a growing acceptance also of mental health being as essential as physical health but still there is little knowledge amongst many in society of what that actually looks like. I think part of that is both people not knowing what they do not know as well as a general apathy in regards to understanding mental health from a clinical point of view. So often terms such as depression are thrown around when someone is feeling a little sad or off-colour and that takes away the seriousness of someone who is actually suffering from clinically diagnosed depression. The language that has historically been used to address someone exhibiting different behaviours or not coping with things in their lives still permeates society. We still hear of people using such terms as 'schizo', 'mental' or 'crazy' which continues to misrepresent, misjudge and misunderstand people with a mental illness and as they are used as derogatory terms also discriminates against people that do have a mental illness.

As a society I also believe we are more informed than has historically been the case however there is also still a lot of 'talk' about implementing mental wellbeing policies in all areas of society but little resources and adequate action actually being put into delivering these.

There is a lot of work being put into schools in respect to mental wellbeing and my hope is that future generations will not only be more informed but more equipped to both manage and recognise mental wellbeing and mental illness and therefore be more accepting of such. As with everything in society it takes time and work to change views, beliefs, language and recognition and part of that is people with a mental illness having the courage and strength to stand up against that stigma and inform others around them that mental illness is not something to fear or avoid but is common throughout society and does not make that person any less nor any more than everyone else.

Mental illness does not have to define who we are but it does need to be more acknowledged as an illness just as any other where diagnosis and treatment is necessary. The more general view that someone with a mental illness cannot function as a 'normal' member of society also needs to be challenged further however. ...and I use the word 'normal' very loosely as everyone's perception of normal is very much subjective. In this respect one of the wider conversations that need to be continually addressed is the uniqueness of every individual and the celebrating of difference. When we as a society begin to value difference as the norm and celebrate that each and every person has a unique and valuable contribution to make in society then maybe we will also begin to internalise mental illness as simply one of those differences that make each indivudal unique and therefore their value in society is exactly the same as everyone else.

Unfortunately the barriers to achieving this will always be apathy, fear, lack of knowledge, lack of experience and lack of understanding. Therefore it is up to all of us to break down these walls ....bit by bit, brick by brick and one wall at a time ...and that takes the courage of those of us in the middle of it all to work from the inside out to share, inform and explain where necessary the reality rather than the perceptions ...and hopefully in doing so teach others that having a mental illness does not define who we are and therefore does not define what we can achieve in life.

[Access]

Thank you @Zoe7 , I understand later generations have a greater understanding of mental illness. I guess people who have an illness are not as isolated to prior decades. I believe “health” should be a subject in the school curriculum that holds just as much importance as other subjects. Projects in schools are looking to improve but there is not enough emphasis about all of health in the curriculum. It’s not until tertiary education that life and health become a quantitative experience.

Thanks for mentioning about people having lack of knowledge about mental illness and people with mental illnesses needing to be tolerant and advocate at the same time. It’s a very good point, maybe I need to do that to break down the walls. The problem with myself is I choose not to disclose or discuss my illness in fear of stigma and bias. There is a fine line there I may need to cross. Life is so scary sometimes.

Thanks.

[Zoe7]

Hey @Access Actually Health is now being taught in schools from Prep as a required subject just as Physical Education is. There is to be a dedicated time each week for each class for Health. For a few years it was an elective and only introduced in some schools until about 3 years ago when it became mandatory to teach it as a subject. In most schools it is taught by the PE teacher and unlike years ago when there was not as much emphasis in uni - now it is a major part of that curriculum. A major focus of that curriculum is social and emotional wellbeing and many schools are introducing restorative practice into their school values and beliefs to equip students with both problem solving skills and as a part of their anti-bullying procedures. There is certainly a long way to go there but we need to start somewhere hey.

In respect to those of us with a mental illness leading the change from within - I totally get it. It is easier said than done to put yourself out there and disclose that to anyone and I completely admire and respect those that are leading the way in that area. A major barrier to that I see as our own self-beliefs and self-worth - unfortunately those are often areas that those of us with a MI really struggle in. 

[silverspoon]

Hello everyone

Wow this is such an interesting topic. I love all the comments and discussions.

I live with the stigma of mental illness everyday. My children are embarressed by my having CPTSD, Addiction and Depression. Not a day goes by without me reminding myself about this. The actually fear me... wondering what their mental mother (and grandmother) might do. But I have healed and become stronger in the last two years. I have learnt a lot about my illnesses and have almost finished a book about living with CPTSD. Throughout this time I developed the confidence to confront the stigma my other family members(cousins and uncles & aunties etc), friends and associates have about mental illness. I wasn't going to keep it in the closet any longer. So, when i was in the company of others and they asked the usual "so how have you been" or "what have you been up to lately", i would nicely respond with the likes of "actually i have been quite miserable. My depression has been acting up." or "One of the symptoms of my mind and heart condition called Complex PTSD is anger. And I had a bit of a blow out a week or so ago". But that has been resolved now and things are looking much better." It's amazing the response i get from this approach. Everyone is genuinely interested and they start to ask questions and i give them nothing but honest answers. When i tell them i am writing a book, they are so intrigued. Everyone is learning and everyone is caring.This approach also improves my self-esteem immensely. I feel good about who i am...warts n all.

[Zoe7]

That is wonderful @silverspoon I do think that people genuinely do not know much about MI and that feeds into their fesr of the unknown. When we are able to be honest and explain it can be both empowering and informative. I have had similar experiences from the most unexpected people. There have been 2 in particular - someone at the local supermarket and someone at my closest petrol station that have asked those questions - who are you? Both these people I see regularly and they have not be empty questions but they have been generally interested. I have been able to be completely honest and say when I am not doing well or when I have improved ...even a little. They genuinely want to know how I am and have been amazing in their responses, care and support. The woman at the supermarket even came out from behind the checkout to give me a hug once  It has been a different level of support but support nonetheless that was totally unexpected and actually helped me. I did to begin with answer that I was 'okay' but both these ladies further pushed - it was obvious I was not okay! So I felt myself answering their questions honestly and there was genuine empathy and interest for me and my health. It is these kind of intersctions - with perfect strangers - that give me hope that MI is becoming less stigmatised and that people do actually want to know how we are and also provide support. Gives just that little bit of faith in humankind and the impact genuinely nice, caring people can have on our lives.

[Appleblossom]

Hearing you @Access 

Great post

Hi @silverspoon 

One of the reasons I like my new Gp is that she is very switched on about the psychology and diagnosis of mental health and is astute about not medicalising life circumstances.

Coming from a situation where diagnoses were tossed around like the proverbial ... that is rare and important for me.