Stigma and How it Affects Individuals Experiencing Mental Illness
The stigma associated with mental illness is cultivated by multiple different avenues. It can be influenced by personal factors such as cultural background, religion, and spirituality, as well as external factors such as media outlets, lack of community understanding, empathy, and connection with individuals who are experiencing mental illness (Boyd, 2020, p. 2-3). These factors that contribute to the stigma negatively influence a person’s sense of self-worth and alter their ability to perceive what is real and what is projected fear and ignorance (Boyd, 2020, p. 4). Unfortunately, this “self stigma” can influence an individual’s desire to seek treatment out of fear that they will be further attached to these negative connotations (Boyd, 2020, p. 4). Cultural backgrounds play a significant role in how a person with a mental illness may perceive their illness and seek treatment, if at all (Boyd, 2020, p. 10). For example, Asian Americans have a history of finding “embarrassment” with those experiencing a mental illness (Boyd, 2020, p. 11). This stigma can prevent those individuals from recognizing their need to seek necessary treatment and impacts their ability to maintain optimal health and wellness (Boyd, 2020, p. 11).
Religious and spirituality factors can influence a person’s perception of mental illness in detrimental ways (Boyd, 2020, p. 12). Some religions believe that suffering is an act of God that represents either wrongdoing or lack of commitment to God (Boyd, 2020, p. 14). Unfortunately, these beliefs may limit a person’s decision or ability to seek medical care (Boyd, 2020, p. 12). Depending on their belief system, the individual may not be motivated to address their mental illness out of fear that they will be negatively perceived by their peers, or they may not be acting accordingly with their values.
The media is a significant culprit in spreading the stigma around mental illness (Boyd, 2020, p. 3). Boyd (2020) describes how in some movies, mental health treatment centers “are portrayed as dangerous and unwelcoming places,” which further enhances the fear surrounding mental illness treatment and creates barriers to those individuals from feeling a part of society (p. 3). When individuals are surrounded by this stigma whether in the media or amongst their own community, they may start believing that the stigma is reality, when really it is a representation of fear and ignorance (Boyd, 2020, p. 4). Increased connections with individuals with mental illness can help dismantle the stigma around mental illness and increase awareness of the commonality of mental illnesses on a global level (Boyd, 2020, p. 4).
As a future nurse, it is my responsibility to contribute to dismantling the stigma surrounding mental illness through education, discussion, and connecting with those experiencing mental illness.
Reference
Boyd, M. A. (2020). Lippincott CoursePoint Enhanced for Boyd’s Essentials of Psychiatric Nursing (2nd Edition). Wolters Kluwer Health. https://coursepoint.vitalsource.com/books/9781975154028
The Cultural Impact on Individuals Experiencing Mental Illness
A person’s culture can impact their response to mental illness based on the beliefs and values that their culture involves (Boyd, 2020, p. 9). For example, Hispanic Americans will apply many other methods of treatment prior to seeking medical care for mental health concerns (Boyd, 2020, p. 10). Arab Americans have significantly negative views of seeking mental health treatment, which can greatly impact an individual’s desire to seek any sort of medical treatment out of fear of being isolated from their community (Boyd, 2020, p. 11). This may cause individuals who could benefit from mental health care to deny their symptoms or develop “culture-bound syndromes” that further harm their ability to function successfully (Boyd, 2020, p. 11). Religion can have an equal effect on how a person may approach their mental illness (Boyd, 2020, p. 12). In Hinduism, it is believed that individuals are “assigned to castes, permanent hereditary orders, each having different privileges in society” (Boyd, 2020, p. 14). Since Hindus believe that there are “castes and privileges,” lower castes may not have the ability to access medical care (E. Ulloa, personal communication, August 25, 2021). While each religion involves varying belief systems that influence the perception of mental illness, religion and spirituality can help during mental health treatment and the healing process (Boyd, 2020, p. 12).
In the research study of “Religiosity and Spirituality on Mental Health,” by Peres, Kamei, Tabo, and Lucchetti, the question was asked, “What spirituality and religiosity aspects are related to quality of life, well-being, and mental-health in a general population” (Luchetti, Kamei, Peres, Tabo, 2018, as cited in Boyd, 2020, p. 14). The results based on the cross-sectional sample of 976 Brazilians both male and female, “religiousness participants found greater meaning and peace than nonreligious participants” (Luchetti, Kamei, Peres, Tabo, 2018, as cited in Boyd, 2020, p. 14). The nursing team plays a significant role in successfully incorporating an individual’s religion or spiritual beliefs into the care plan to best meet their needs (Boyd, 2020, p. 14). By adapting spirituality and religious screening tools, the nurse can determine how to best interact with their patient and help them achieve their health and wellness goals (Boyd, 2020, p. 123).
References
Boyd, M. A. (2020). Lippincott CoursePoint Enhanced for Boyd’s Essentials of Psychiatric Nursing (2nd Edition). Wolters Kluwer Health. https://coursepoint.vitalsource.com/books/9781975154028
Peres, M.F.P., Kamei, H.H., Tobo, P.R., & Luchetti, G. (2018). Mechanisms behind religiosity and spirituality’s effect on mental health, quality of life, and well-being. Journal of Religion & Health, 57(5), 1842-1855.
