Progress towards mental illness awareness has improved in recent years. This has helped the mentally ill in significant ways, however it has also caused a new enemy: stigma.
Any stigma against a particular group is where derogatory terms and discrimination are experienced by members of said group. Many mentally ill persons have experienced this stigma, as mentioned by Ruby Wax in her speech "What's So Funny About Mental Illness." However, as attested to by Alyse Schacter, many mentally ill persons are finding support from family and friends due to awareness programs and spreading of information on mental illnesses. In her TEDx Talks speech, Schacter describes her first severe experience with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. After her first major episode and her return to school, she says “my parents who were really incredible said you know what why don’t we come in and talk to your classmates and let them know that what you’re dealing with is something you haven’t chosen.” By bringing awareness about her mental illness to her classmates, her parents helped give Schacter support and help eliminate any stigma that cod have developed. And while in the past, mentally ill patients were often discriminated against for their illness, today many have worked tirelessly to help prevent such discrimination from being prominent. Even the military, as mentioned in the post previous to this, has made a discharge due to mental illness considered an honorable discharge rather than the former dishonorable discharge it was before. Much progress has been made in recent decades and now the mentally ill have more support and more of a voice than ever before. While the previous piece used Alyse Schafer’s video story speaks to the hard work that has been put into eradicating the stigma against the mentally ill. Significant progress has been made and that should be celebrated! |
http://www.germmagazine.com/mental-illness-awareness-week/
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