#WMHD2024: Let’s talk Stigma
On the 10th of October this year, The World Federation of Mental Health (WFMH) led the charge as we marked World Mental Health Day. It’s a day to bring global focus to mental health, examining how far we’ve come and what needs to be done to make people, corporate bodies and governments take mental health more seriously. This year’s theme goes: ‘It is Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace’.
This year, I’ll go off theme a little and talk about stigma. Because one of the biggest stumbling blocks to getting help for people with mental health challenges is still stigma.
What is stigma?
Stigma is a mark, stain or blemish.
It is an attitude or idea about a mental, physical, or social feature of a person or group of people that implies social disapproval.
Stigma may be obvious. Or it may be so subtle that it goes unnoticed. For example, stigma can be presented as a joke. Let’s face it: most of us have made those kinds of ‘harmless jokes’.
Examples of stigma include:
- Using slang or labels to exclude people or groups of people
- Assuming that someone with a mental illness is dangerous
- Assumptions about a person’s intelligence or behavior based on a mental health condition. “So someone with a mental health problem can vote in an election?”
- People with mental health problems repeatedly being shown in the media in a negative way
- Different treatment that is either isolating or harmful because someone is known to have had a mental illness in the past. We’re talking things as basic as marriage — “we don’t marry from such”
- Laws or institutional regulations that isolate or negatively impact people with psychological conditions
It’s not that there are no dangerous mentally ill people or that we’re not allowed to make jokes when people display funny behaviour. The problem is the well-known ‘danger of a single story’. When a person is labelled by their illness, they are no longer seen as the person they are, but as part of a stereotyped group.
Even when stigmas go unnoticed, the effects can be damaging.
More than half of people with mental illness avoid or delay seeking treatment due to concerns about being treated differently or fears of losing their jobs and livelihood. That’s because stigma, prejudice and discrimination against people with mental illness are still very much a problem.
Stigma not only directly affects individuals with mental illness but also the loved ones who support them. And surprise, surprise, psychiatric doctors too!
Did you know?
The stigma of mental illness is universal. A 2016 report on stigma concluded, “there is no country, society or culture where people with mental illness have the same societal value as people without mental illness.”
Nearly 9 out of 10 people with a mental illness feel stigma and discrimination negatively impact their lives. About half of workers were concerned about discussing mental health issues at their jobs, and more than one in three were concerned about retaliation or being fired if they sought mental health care
Why do we stigmatize against the mentally ill?
Stigma, prejudice and discrimination are pre-loaded features of the human race. Of course, it is not only the mentally ill that are at the receiving end of stigma. We seem to have a remarkable ability to discriminate against anyone different from us in any way possible.
In the case of mental health, psychologists and social scientists have constantly asked the question, why? Why do we do it?
The simplest answer is that stigma often comes from lack of understanding or fear. The stigma surrounding mental illness is complex and has roots in historical, cultural, and social factors.
Cultural/historical bias. Everywhere in the world, at some point, mental illness was closely tied to superstition. People with mental health conditions were sometimes viewed as dangerous, possessed, or morally corrupt. In the 21st century, while others have moved on, we in this part of the world still haven’t quite let go of the connection between mental illness and Juju. These beliefs still lead to marginalization, punishment, and even violence against those with mental illness. In our cultures, mental health issues are considered taboo, and people are discouraged from discussing their struggles or seeking help. Cultural expectations about maintaining emotional control or “saving face” contribute to the stigma. Some societies may see mental illness as a sign of shame or dishonour to the family.
Lack of Education. Many people still lack a clear understanding of mental health issues. This ignorance can lead to fear, as people often fear what they do not understand. Misconceptions, like believing mental illness is a sign of demon possession or that it’s something people can simply “snap out of,” perpetuate negative attitudes. Mental illness is often wrongly associated with personal weakness or failure, as opposed to physical illnesses, which are typically viewed as being outside a person’s control.
Media Portrayal. You will be surprised that most of the things you know about mental illness might just come from Nollywood. Popular media has often portrayed people with mental illnesses in a negative light, such as depicting them as violent, erratic, or criminal. This portrayal reinforces harmful stereotypes and can influence how the public perceives the condition, despite most people with mental health conditions posing no threat to others.
Fear of the Unknown. Mental illness can manifest in ways that seem unpredictable or difficult to comprehend, which can make others uncomfortable. The unpredictability, or the perception of it, may lead to avoidance and discrimination against individuals with mental health conditions.
Focus on “Normality”. Society often values conformity and “normality,” even though nobody really knows what that means. Any deviation from perceived norms is seen as something to be punished somehow. People with mental health conditions may behave in ways that seem different or difficult to understand, prompting others to stigmatize them.
What does stigma in the workplace look like?
This year’s World Mental Health Day theme is “Mental Health in the Workplace”. Stigma in the workplace, especially around mental health or other vulnerabilities, can manifest in various ways, both subtle and overt. Here’s what workplace stigma may look like:
1. Assuming incompetence. Colleagues or employers may assume that someone with a mental health condition or disability is less capable of performing their job effectively or handling stress. This might lead to them being overlooked for projects or promotions. People may be labelled with terms like “unstable,” “lazy,” or “difficult,” which dehumanizes them and reduces their potential contributions to those stereotypes.
2. Discrimination in Career Advancement. Employees with mental health issues might be passed over for promotions or excluded from leadership roles due to concerns about their ability to cope with increased responsibilities, even when these concerns are unfounded. Managers may take away challenging assignments or give overly simplistic tasks to those struggling with mental health, assuming they can’t handle the same workload as others.
3. Lack of Support or Accommodation. Employers might be unwilling to provide necessary accommodations (e.g., flexible hours, mental health days, or reduced workload), even though these adjustments can greatly benefit the employee without harming the organization. Some workplaces foster an environment where talking about mental health struggles is taboo. Employees might feel they have to hide their condition for fear of being judged or treated differently.
4. Bullying and Harassment. In some cases, people with mental health issues may be directly harassed, teased, or mocked by co-workers or managers. This could be in the form of jokes, derogatory comments, or inappropriate behaviour targeting their condition. Bullying can also be subtle, such as giving someone the “silent treatment,” withholding important information, or setting them up to fail by assigning unreasonable tasks.
5. Gossip and Misinformation. Rumours about someone’s mental health status can quickly spread within a workplace, leading to further marginalization. This is especially common when there’s a lack of understanding about mental health. People may misinterpret or exaggerate the nature of someone’s condition, fuelling stigma by spreading misinformation about what that person is experiencing.
6. Fear of Disclosure. Employees may avoid seeking help or disclosing their mental health struggles due to fear of being judged, demoted, or fired. This internalized stigma can prevent them from getting the support they need, leading to worsening mental health. Even when people do disclose, they might face indirect punishment, such as losing responsibilities, being treated differently, or being subtly pushed out of their role. Employees who take time off for mental health reasons might fear that their job security is at risk, leading to anxiety about potential repercussions like demotion or being laid off.
7. Pressure to Conform. Many workplaces promote a culture where employees are expected to “push through” personal struggles without showing signs of vulnerability. This pressure to conform to a “tough” persona discourages employees from acknowledging mental health issues. People may view mental health conditions as a lack of resilience or personal failure, rather than as legitimate health concerns. Even while writing this, my own medical occupation comes to mind. Is it any wonder that doctors have some of the highest suicide rates?
To be continued in the next story…
