I’m Going To Stop Saying “Stigma”
Or I’m going to try to.
During my last Madvocates meeting we had a discussion about stigma. The mental health field has grabbed stigma and is milking it for everything it’s worth! During our discussion Jennifer mentioned that the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) believes we need to stop using stigma and call it what it is-discrimination!
I would have to agree.
OHRC says that to use the term “stigma” to describe why people with mental health issues are treated poorly is neoliberal. Stigma may in fact be watering down the severity of the problem.
Stigma says that there is a victim but no perpetrator or I believe it creates a very vague perpetrator that seems a little out of our reach. To me, stigma has always meant “society” or something very abstract and floaty. Stigma was always perched on a cloud.
Discrimination on the other hand is the massive boulder that smashes into you. Discrimination has a victim, has a perpetrator and most importantly is ILLEGAL!
We are discriminated against. Individuals are impeding on our human rights to employment, housing, education, safety and more. THIS IS ILLEGAL!!!!
We need to hold people and organizations responsible for their thoughts and actions but using stigma seems to have the ability to absolve one of their crimes towards those with mental health issues. It’s a very tame term. Discrimination has the weight we need to make head way.
It is discrimination when I am made fun of for having mental health issues.
It is discrimination when I was told I could not be a successful social worker because of mental health issues.
It is discrimination when I’m told I cannot be hired at a mental health agency because they believe I will take advantage of their services.
It is discrimination when I’m asked for a mental health check by an employer who can deny me a job based on the results.
It is discrimination when I am not accommodated at work or school.
It is discrimination when my thoughts and feelings are not seen as valid because I have a mental health issue.
We are experiencing discrimination.
Canadian Human Rights and Mental Health Initiatives
Ontario Human Rights Commission
Posted on June 17, 2012, in Madness, Mental Health, Stigma/Discrimination and tagged discrimination, human rights, illegal, mental health, mental illness, Ontario Human Rights Commission, stigma. Bookmark the permalink. 20 Comments.
Ive never thought of it that way, but so true
I’m glad it made sense! I wasn’t sure if I was putting the thought together correctly.
I’m going to start using discrimination instead of stigma when I do speaking engagements and see what happens.
Absolutely! It is discrimination. But sadly, it leads to stigma, but that is because of the oppressors!
I guess this is sort of what I’m feeling in my life–fear of discrimination if anyone found it. I feel like I have to guard a terrible secret. I fear that people might not want me working for them because they fear that my issues will get in the way, make me less competent. Not dealing with it and suppressing it is what made me less competent in the past. Acknowledging it, trying to manage it–I can do this and still be competent.
It does feel like we need to constantly prove ourselves and not just to others but to ourselves as well I have found!
Excellent point. Thank you for sharing it.
So agree on this…
Great post. Stigma does seems like some cloud that wafts about, somewhat hard to define. Discrimination is more recognizable and possibly something we can combat. There are no laws to protect us from stigma. You may be onto something.
Maybe we need to use “stigma” to get people used the idea that the mental health community faces problems and then once that is known then we can throw out discrimination? I don’t know….
Stigma does name the attitudes which don’t always result in discrimination. Both are problematic. I think stigma can be misunderstood and easily denied by those who perpetrate it. Discrimination on the other hand is more blatant.
Yeah you’re right. It is best to use both words, if anything, but we’re not currently doing that.
You know, when I first started reading this post I thought it was going to be another one of those “let’s use nice words instead of horrible ones!” things. Like using “mental wellness” instead of “mental illness”. I’m sure that attitude works for some, but it does nothing but get my back up; if it’s an illness then I’ll call it an illness.
However, I agree with you entirely and I’m glad it wasn’t one of those posts! I can’t think of my situations which include the word “stigma” more than mental illness; if somebody is racist, they were said to be discriminating, not stigmatising, so why is mental health so different?
Certainly something to think about.
Ha ha, I’ve done those nice words posts and I’m glad this post sat well with you!
We don’t say “women experience stigma”, “Muslim’s experience stigma” or “racialized individuals experience stigma” we call it what it is and that’s discrimination.
I guess we use stigma with mental health because we’re not ready to face our role in the discrimination? I can only guess.
Sadly, I think your guess is right.
I think there is a place for both words. To me it’s like discrimination is action against someone because of a certain characteristic but stigma is about an attitude. It’s interesting that I think “women/muslims/ racialized individuals” are referred to in my country as experiencing stigma. Unfortunately it doesn’t necessaryily stop it but I think it is starting to be recognised as an issue for a lot more than just mental health. Not sure why the difference between countries but you may an interesting point. Thanks.
Each country has a different past which has helped create its present. But also, in Canada, we’ll call discrimination by very specific names: racism, sexism, islamipohbia etc. Mental health does have an “ism” and it’s sanism/mentalism but no one uses these terms or very rarely are they used.
Great post – this really got me thinking. And internally ranting.
The dictionary definition of stigma: a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person: the stigma of mental disorder | to be a nonreader carries a social stigma.
The definition of discrimination: the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, esp. on the grounds of race, age, or sex: victims of racial discrimination | discrimination against homosexuals.
Just based on definitions, I think stigma is really the wrong word. Mental illness is only considered “disgraceful” due to widespread ignorance. To me, the fact that it’s used as the (first!) example for the dictionary is just further evidence of how ingrained the attitude really is.
Mental illness itself is not a disgrace – or at least, it shouldn’t be in this day and age. I think this usage of the term has to do with seeing stigma as an attitude or social perception rather than a set of behaviors and actions. And then utterly failing to make the (obvious) connection between discriminatory attitudes and discriminatory actions.
Mental illness was the first example in the dictionary definition of stigma!?!? Wow!
Those two definitions even show that one is the fault of the victim and the other is the fault of the perpetrator!
I also don’t think mental illness is a disgrace. I should be no less disgraced about a mental health issue than having tonsillitis.
Pingback: UN launches new tool to protect people with mental health conditions « kracktivist
Pingback: The Steady Drip: AKA Obama Having Mental Health Problems – White House Insider « CITIZEN.BLOGGER.1984+ GUNNY.G BLOG.EMAIL