The Misconceptions of Mental Illness and The Stigma that Follows 1

The Misconceptions of Mental Illness and The Stigma that Follows

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Professor Volstad

October 28 2018

Jasmine Moore
The Misconceptions of Mental Illness and The Stigma that Follows 2

Abstract

This essay discusses the most common misconceptions related to mental illness which are

that those who have a mental illness are dangerous, weak-willed, and fake their symptoms and

how to approach these misconceptions in order to eliminate the stigma associated with mental

illness. This paper examines the findings of how different external factors such as media and

stereotypes impact the lives of the mentally ill.

The Misconceptions of Mental Illness and The Stigma that Follows 3

Introduction

As stated by Wax, “This disease comes with a package: shame. When any other part of

your body gets sick, you get sympathy” (Wax). There are a variety of illnesses in the world that

have a direct impact on an individual’s life. Even if that illness is physical, emotional, or

psychological, these individuals all deserve a chance to have equal opportunities in society. As

society looks around they may notice how many diseases are downplayed, one of them being

mental illness. The National Alliance on Mental Illness also referred to as “NAMI,” defines

mental illness as “a condition that affects a person's thinking, feeling or mood. These conditions

may affect someone's ability to relate to others and function each day” (NAMI, 2018). NAMI

also states that “mental illnesses can affect persons of any age, race, religion, or income”

(NAMI, 2018). Analyzing this definition, society can conclude that mental illness can affect any

individual and that its condition has a drastic effect on the lives of the individuals impacted by it.

People suffering from mental illness are stereotyped as dangerous, weak-willed, and as

fabricating their symptoms. The time has come where the stigma associated with mental illness

must become a top health priority in order to help spread the awareness of mental illness

worldwide by providing the proper resources such as formal training and classes in every social

setting.

The vast varieties of personalities have riveted scientists and other innovative individuals

since the beginning of mankind. Many are specifically interested in what happens when an

individual's mind has rebooted itself and has rewritten its code to go against that individual. They

wonder what can be done to retrieve the previous information that has been deleted. There have

been many attempts to treat mental illness dating back as early as 5000 BCE as evidenced by the

discovery of trephined skulls in regions that were home to ancient world cultures (Porter, 10).
The Misconceptions of Mental Illness and The Stigma that Follows 4

Early man believed that mental illness was evil and was caused by a demonic or spiritual force

that could not be seen with the naked eye. Extreme methods, such as Trephining, first occurred

during the Neolithic times. During this procedure, a hole, or trephine, was chipped into the skull

using crude stone instruments. It was believed that, through this opening, the evil spirit(s)

inhabited one’s head, causing their psychopathology. It would then be released and the

individual would be cured (Foerschner, 2010). Evidence has shown that individuals who

underwent this brutal procedure survived and, through the years, eventually healed. In ancient

Mesopotamia, priest-doctors treated the mentally ill with “magical-religious” rituals as mental

pathology was believed to mask demonic possession (Alexander, 19). Exorcisms, incantations,

prayer, atonement, and other various mystical rituals were used to drive out the evil spirit. Other

means attempted to appeal to the spirit with more human devices--threats, bribery, punishment,

and sometimes submission were hoped to be an effective cure (Alexander, 8). These ancient

methods represent how people did not have a sufficient amount of knowledge on what caused

mental illness nor the correct methods needed to approach people with mental illness.

People tend to avoid socializing or living with individuals who suffer from mental illness

because they assume that the individual is violent or dangerous. Society is accustomed to

encountering violence among the mentally ill, through movie depictions of crazed killers or real-

life dramas played out constantly on late night television (Metzel, MacLeish 2018). The media

constantly showcases violence among the mentally ill because society fears unpredictable acts of

violence, and they subconsciously affiliate it toward mental illness. The death of an individual

that was stabbed during a failed robbery is more reassuring than one by an insane killer. People

fail to realize how powerful the media is in altering the reality of the mentally ill being

dangerous into something much more sinister and downright degrading. As a result, the
The Misconceptions of Mental Illness and The Stigma that Follows 5

individual who has mental health issues are often discriminated against in various situations and

places such as a job, school, housing, and social events or situations (SANE Australia, 2018).

Therefore, they have already been judged which hinders their ability to make impressive first

impressions. This is the first issue that must be addressed in order for the stigma and

misconception to end.

One of the worst and most prevalent misconceptions when it comes to mental illness is

the “snap out of it” response (Griffin, 2016). Society fails to realize the consequences that are

associated with this social stigma. Those who suffer from mental illness may feel ashamed to

share their pain and episodes with those who care about them because they do not want to be

shunned. They may be less likely to reach out for help because society has led them to believe

that what they are going through is all in their head. “There is a clear sense that the social

stigmas emanating from one’s peers and from society as a whole can cause sufferers to develop

their own internal self-inflicted stigmas as well,” in most cases they begin to believe that they are

a burden to their family and friends, or that it is their entire fault that they are the way that they

are (Osorio). This issue needs to be addressed because mental illness should not be viewed as a

“weakness” but rather a condition that a person has that does not make them any less human than

the rest of us.

Another common misconception about mental illness is that those who have one “fake”

their symptoms. Although the exact cause of most mental illnesses is not known, it is becoming

clear through research that many of these conditions are caused by a combination of genetic,

biological, psychological, and environmental factors, not personal weakness or a character defect

(2012). Environmental factors that can contribute to mental illness include trauma, emotional

harm, and substance abuse. Sexual, physical, and emotional abuse during childhood all lead to an
The Misconceptions of Mental Illness and The Stigma that Follows 6

increase in the likelihood of developing a mental disorder. Highly stressful home environments,

loss of a loved one, and natural disasters are also major contributors (Schmidt, 2007).

Experiencing a traumatic incident can result in psychological changes. Bullying can relate to

emotional harm because the victim suffers emotionally which can cause them to obtain a mental

illness. Exposure to drugs and alcohol to females who are pregnant can lead to a mental illness in

the fetus, such as Fetal- Alcohol Syndrome, which leads to physical, behavioral, and emotional

abnormalities. Genetic, Environmental, Biological, and Psychological factors must collaborate

together in order for a mental illness to become present. In order for the misconceptions and the

stigma associated with mental illness to end society must raise awareness of these issues and

educate individuals on how to approach mental illness.

Methods

S. Whitehead, a Registered Nurse, has firsthand experience dealing with the mentally ill.

As a graduate of Winston Salem State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing,

and with experience in Prison Corrections and currently as a Psychiatric Nurse at a Mental

Asylum she is highly qualified to determine what qualities that the severely mentally ill possess

as well as the best methods to approach and educate others on the mentally ill. When asked about

the most common misconceptions regarding the mentally ill she clearly stated that violence and

fakeness are the top two most common.

Many prisoners that she comes in contact with have some form of mental illness. These

illnesses come in many forms such as Anxiety, Schizophrenia, and Multiple-Personality

Disorder. The sad thing about these prisoners is that many of them grew up without parents, or

with parents who spent most of their lives in prison. This leads to the prisoners lacking coping

skills which are vital to the health of your mental state. Another point that Nurse Whitehead
The Misconceptions of Mental Illness and The Stigma that Follows 7

stated was that many of her colleagues have a mental illness yet they have college degrees and

live relatively normal lives. She stated this to show how the misconception of how the mentally

ill are weak-willed is foolish. It takes a strong person to live a life as normally as they can while

battling an internal force that others cannot see.

The final point that Nurse Whitehead addressed was that many people with mental illness

are more in tune with their illness than others may realize. Many of her patients in the psych

hospital checked themselves in to the facility because they knew that their symptoms were

getting worse or because they do not want their family to deal with what they are dealing with.

Lastly, some methods that Nurse Whitehead practices in her current workplace are that

they hold weekly group therapy sessions for the patients as well as the workers. They focus on

what things may tick off a patient and what calms them down. The workers use the group

therapy sessions for learning and talking about what methods are best for the different patients.

The things that makes these group sessions so impactful are that they treat each person like a

human being instead of like their illness. According to Nurse Whitehead, many patients have told

her that they feel as though people have the mindset of “that’s them, not me.” This causes them

to feel secluded from the rest of society. Another practice that Nurse Whitehead mentioned was

that of treatment teams. The purposes of these teams are to educate people about the psychiatric

community and well as influence a curriculum in schools starting from pre-k on up that involves

classes that teach about learning the different types of mental illness and what to do if you see

someone with an illness having an episode.

The Misconceptions of Mental Illness and The Stigma that Follows 8

Results

Overall, this research validates how prevalent the misconceptions of mental illness are

and how the stigma associated with them affect those impacted by an illness. This information is

crucial when considering whether or not to pursue a career as an advocate for the awareness of

mental illness. The primary research clearly shows how heavy the misconceptions of mental

illness are used in society. Nurse Whitehead further solidified how impactful the stigmas

associated with mental illness are in the lives of those with an illness by discussing how the

prisoners that she worked with had the stigma of being dangerous bound to them forever due to

their illness and them being incarcerated. She also clarified the fact that many individuals with

mental illnesses are aware that they have an illness and strive to get help.

In order to truly get rid of the misconceptions associated with mental illness people have

to be aware of what mental illness is and how to approach it. Mental Illness is not a source of

witchcraft, in order to make the world a more accepting place mental illness must be actively

discussed in a positive manner. Workshops and classes need to be a required part of curriculums

in schools so that every student and teacher knows what to do and how to make a person with a

mental illness feel welcomed.

Mental illness is and should be considered a health disease of the brain, just like

Tuberculosis and Alzheimer’s (ALS) are considered diseases of the lungs and nerves,

respectively. A person suffering from clinical depression may need to take medication to

increase his levels of Serotonin just as a diabetic needs regular Insulin shots to maintain their

blood sugar levels (Balhara, 2011). Therefore, mental illness should never be blamed on the

victim, just like diabetes or cancer. The Canadian Senate committee on Social Affairs, Science

and Technology (CSCSAST) released a report titled “Out of the Shadows at Last” which had
The Misconceptions of Mental Illness and The Stigma that Follows 9

different individuals speak about their experiences when trying to get help. One individual told

the committee that the only way to receive adequate treatment for suicidal ideation in their

community was to commit a crime or to actually attempt suicide (2006). This low regard for the

mentally ill is worldwide and is more common than one would expect. Another example is that

of a former Indian medical student with a history of mental illness. He was shunned by his

medical school colleagues and eventually was forced to seek treatment at a psychiatric hospital

with a sign reading: “Hospital for insane people” (Bawaskar, 2018). These are just two examples

of many in which people who have mental illness have tried to reach out for help but was turned

down or laughed at. It takes a brave person with a strong will to live and succeed to reach out for

help in society. This further exemplifies the reason as to why educating individuals are so

important.

Conclusion

This paper not only identifies and addresses the issues related to mental illness but it also

reveals how difficult of an occupation it is to advocate for the mentally ill. So many

misconceptions surround mental illness that at times it can be difficult to center on one problem.

Mental illness is still very prevalent in society and people need to keep bringing awareness to the

issue so that the misconceptions and stigmas finally come to an end. Educating the masses is the

best way to approach this issue and advocating is a major method that helps. The time has come

where the stigma associated with mental illness must become a top health priority in order to

help spread the awareness of mental illness worldwide by providing the proper resources such as

formal training and classes in every social setting.

The Misconceptions of Mental Illness and The Stigma that Follows
10

References
Balhara, Y. P. (2011). Diabetes and psychiatric disorders. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3193776/

Foerschner, A. M. (2010) VOL.2 NO. 09. The History of Mental Illness: From Skull Drills to

Happy Pills. Retrieved October 28, 2018, from

http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1673/the-history-of-mental-illness-from-skull-

drills-to-happy-pills

Griffin, R. (2016, February 15). 6 Reasons Why People With Mental Illnesses Are Strong, Not

Weak. Retrieved October 28, 2018, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/6-reasons-

why-people-with-mental-illnesses-are-strong-not-weak_b_9204122

Metzl, J. M., & MacLeish, K. T. (2015, February). Mental Illness, Mass Shootings, and the

Politics of American Firearms. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4318286/Schmidt, C. W. (2007,

August). Retrieved October 28, 2018, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1940091/

NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Retrieved October 29, 2018, from

https://www.nami.org/

Schmidt, C. W. (2007, August). Environmental Connections: A Deeper Look into Mental Illness.

Retrieved October 29, 2018, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1940091/
The Misconceptions of Mental Illness and The Stigma that Follows
11

Annotated Bibliography: Mental Illness

Foerschner, A. M. (2010) VOL.2 NO. 09. The History of Mental Illness: From Skull Drills to

Happy Pills. Retrieved September 25, 2018, from

http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1673/the-history-of-mental-illness-from-skull-

drills-to-happy-pills

This article talks about the beginnings of mental illness. It focuses on how ancient

civilizations viewed mental illness as a demonic possession and the methods that were used to

cure people of their illness. Trephining was a popular method used to get rid of an individual’s

mental illness, or so they thought. It was believed that if a huge hole was drilled into your skull

then the demons that lied within would fly free and return back to hell. This article, in my

opinion, is scholarly because it gives a historical background to mental illness and really helped

draw attention to the stigma that has been associated with it for as long as people can remember.

I would definitely use this article as a source because I feel as though I can really bring in the

pathos and create a descriptive image of how painful and terrorizing it must have been back in

the day if you had an illness. It would also be a good source to use because it always helps to

have a historical background on your argument so that you can give your audience a little bit of

insight on why you may have that specific opinion on a topic.

Griffin, R. (2016, February 15). 6 Reasons Why People With Mental Illnesses Are Strong, Not

Weak. Retrieved October 28, 2018, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/6-reasons-

why-people-with-mental-illnesses-are-strong-not-weak_b_9204122

This article is focused on how people with mental illness are afraid to reach out for help

because they are afraid of being stigmatized. The authors focus on how these complex elements
The Misconceptions of Mental Illness and The Stigma that Follows
12

impact how willing mentally ill individuals are in participating in care. This leads to them

becoming worse rather than getting better. Treatments have been developed and tested to

successfully reduce the symptoms and disabilities of many mental illnesses. Unfortunately,

people distressed by these illnesses often do not seek out services or choose to fully engage in

them. One factor that impedes care seeking and undermines the service system is mental illness

stigma. This stigma is detrimental because it has so many factors that are involved in its complex

system. It involves the public, the self, and the structural components that make up a stigma. This

article, in my opinion, is scholarly because it has facts to back itself up. I will definitely use this

article as a source because it digs deep into the aspect of why there are so many different

perspectives on mental illness and provides a deep analysis of how impactful our thoughts and

words can be when we are faced with something that we have no true idea about.

Balhara, Y. P. (2011). Diabetes and psychiatric disorders. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3193776/

This article is focused on the connection between diabetes and mental illness. The author

focuses on how mental illness is similar to diabetes because they both have an impact on your

health. Diabetes affects your body while mental illness affects your brain. Everything ties in with

each other. I believe that this article is scholarly because it has a lot of credentials and a lot of

factual information to back up its data. I will definitely use this article as a source because it

really provides a deeper perspective on how mental illness is just like a physical disease and how

it must be viewed just as importantly as other diseases.

Metzl, J. M., & MacLeish, K. T. (2015, February). Mental Illness, Mass Shootings, and the

Politics of American Firearms. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4318286/
The Misconceptions of Mental Illness and The Stigma that Follows
13

This article talks about how society is accustomed to encountering violence among the

mentally ill, through movie depictions of crazed killers or real-life dramas played out constantly

on late night television. The authors also talk about how media plays a huge role in the

perspective of mental illness in general. I believe that this article is scholarly because it has a lot

of ethos and had been verified by other PhD holding individuals which make it even more

reliable. I will definitely use this article as a source because it really provides an interesting

scenario that you can clearly see happening in today’s society and it is really eye-opening and

interesting.

Schmidt, C. W. (2007, August). Environmental Connections: A Deeper Look into Mental Illness.

Retrieved October 29, 2018, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1940091/

This article talked about how different factors can lead to mental illness. Some factors

that it stated were environmental, psychological, stress, and emotional. All of these factors can

cause an individual to develop a mental illness. I find this article so powerful because it really

attacks the misconception that people with a mental illness fake their symptoms. It shines a light

on just how many different factors would have to be prevalent in order for an illness to form. It

takes a genius to be able to effectively fake all of these factors. I believe that this article is

scholarly because it contains a lot of credibility and has a lot of research within it. I would

absolutely use this article as a source because I believe that it is super beneficial for my

argument.