Awareness actions for social acceptance of people who suffer mental disorders. More information
One out of every four people suffers some sort of mental disorder during their lifetime. In Spain the estimate is that 9% of the population currently suffers some sort of mental disorder. Even though it is foreseen that this figure will grow in the next few years, and that it affects the entire population equally, mental disorders are still today unknown to society. Anxiety, depression, anorexia or schizophrenia are common and very close to all of us. They can affect a sister, a mother, a friend or a workmate or even ourselves personally. Yet, still today to talk about mental disorders is frequently considered to be taboo.
This section of 1decada4 attempts to contribute in making mental disorders visible, for them to become known in an objective way, as well as the consequences of stigma. In sum, invites one to re-think our ideas and attitudes regarding mental disorders.
Stigma is a load of suffering that unnecessarily increases the load of problems of the disorder
Mental disorder and stigma: This section explains what social stigma is about and how to fight it; a load of suffering that unnecessarily increases the load of problems of the disorder and constitutes one of the main obstacles in treatment success and recovery. This is a list and description of the concepts of self-stigmatization, labelling, stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination and deals in further depth with the following aspects:
- How stigma is created. Describes the different sources of discrimination against people with mental disorders: from health professionals to one’s own family, living situation and employment, the image of mental disorders in the media and institutions when resources are assigned to them for mental health care.
- Myths and realities. Pre-conceived opinions and images of society are questioned when they deal with people with mental disorders. It includes a chart with the most common myths and realities of mental disorders.
- Documents. Selection of scientific articles, books and institutional reference documents on the stigma of mental disorders.
After centuries of incomprehension and seclusion, towards the beginning of the twentieth century "madness" was approached as a disease and not as an irreversible and dangerous state. In recent decades of the past century, the "madman" moved from being locked up and forgotten to become just another citizen with equal rights and the backing of a social and health system that works to integrate this type of person in society.
This section explains how the disorder is confronted today and progress achieved in eliminating stigmatisation, both by the person affected with a mental disorder as well as his or her surroundings, the institutions (Andalusian, Spanish, European and International) as well as non-institutional initiatives.
In a simple way, the most frequent mental disorders are explained in the following categories:
Awareness actions for social acceptance of people who suffer mental disorders. More information
