Stigma & Mental Health

Dear all,

today we are writing about a serious and important topic, which is especially important considering our #newnormal environment. We are talking about mental health, which is just as important as physical health.

The World Health Organization defines mental health as “a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his potential, can cope with normal life stresses, can work productively, and is able to contribute to his community” (according to the World Health Organization, 2004). From the definition of health of the WHO, which states that “health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not just the absence of disease and exhaustion”, we can conclude that there is no health if there is no mental health.

Today, mental health problems are affecting an increasing number of people, which is largely related to increased stress levels, hectic lifestyles and unhealthy habits as essential determinants of our lifestyle today. Moreover, in addition to the health crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are facing the arrival of the economic crisis, which has a great impact on each of us – for both BIG or SMALL. It is therefore not surprising that more and more people are showing mental health difficulties.

What we need to keep in mind is that even the youngest ones can have mental health difficulties, which can have significant consequences for their development. It often happens that when we recognize that a child has difficulties – parents do not accept it, but diminish it or reject it, as does their immediate environment. It often happens that people refuse to go to a psychiatrist or psychologist because they think they do not need it or they are afraid of what other people will say if they find out about it. But by doing this and thus not receiving appropriate treatment, the mental health difficulties can significantly aggravate and therefore impair the individual’s life quality.

Unfortunately, a large number of people still does not consider mental health as important as it should be. Talking about mental health is avoided, the difficulties are hidden and even people who have mental health difficulties are hidden from others. Such phenomenon is called stigmatization, whereby, in accordance with our prejudices, we mark, isolate or marginalize a person who has mental health difficulties.

Such stigmatization of an individual with mental health problems can lead to a vicious circle and thus further complicate the life of the individual even more, and lead to diminishing society’s awareness and investment in the protection of mental health. Therefore, the stigma of mental illness is a major obstacle to the success of programs that aim to improve and protect mental health.

The expert team of the Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Adolescents dedicated a special text to the stigmatization of people diagnosed with mental disabilities and made an infographic that accurately presents MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

The first step in preventing stigma is to educate society by providing scientifically based facts. Our prejudices are rarely correct and can be harmful, both to us and to others. Read the myths and facts about mental health in the picture and the text of the Psychiatric Hospital for Children and Adolescents (linked bellow) – educate yourself and help us break down harmful prejudices!

Together for mental health!

Your Center Luka Ritz

https://djecja-psihijatrija.hr/stigmatizacija-osoba-s-dusevnim-smetnjama/