Understanding the Impact of Stigma on People with Mental Illness 

Patrick Corrigan and Amy Watson in the article, “Understanding the Impact of 

Stigma on People with Mental Illness” (2002), addresses that the stigma placed on 

people with mental illness causes more issues than solutions and needs to be changed. 

Corrigan and Watson support their claim by explaining statistics, views, prejudice, and 

discrimination placed on those with mental illness. Their purpose is to inform their 

audience about the dangers of stigma in order to improve the mental state of those 

affected and to improve society as a whole. The authors write in a formal tone for their 

audience of members of society affected by mental health stigmas and those who assign 

the stigma themselves.  

Corrigan, Patrick W, and Amy C Watson. “Understanding the Impact of Stigma on People  

with Mental Illness.” ​World Psychiatry : Official Journal of the World Psychiatric 

Association  

(WPA),​ Masson Italy, Feb. 2002, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1489832/. 

 Looking at my Genes: What Can They Tell me About my Mental Health?  

The article, “Looking at my Genes: What Can They Tell me About my Mental 

Health?” (2017), by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), outlines the information 

you need to find genetic trend of mental illness in families and what you can do to help 

others find their probability of developing a mental illness also. NIMH supports their claim 

by explaining the steps you can take; these include: learning your family history of mental 

illness, getting genetically tested for probabilities of mental illnesses like bipolar disorder 

and schizophrenia, and how to help others learn about their genetics by getting tested in 

clinical trials. NIMH’s purpose is to inform their audience of mental health research so 

that those who struggle with mental illness can get the help they need.  

“Looking at My Genes: What Can They Tell Me About My Mental Health?” ​National  

Institute of Mental Health,​ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,  

www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/looking-at-my-genes/index.shtml. 

 
 Mental Disorders as Brain Disorders 

Thomas Insel, MD, Neuroscientist, psychologist, and former president of NIMH; in 

the video, “Mental Disorders as Brain Disorders” (2013), compares the reductions of 

casualties due to medical diseases and the lack of reduction of casualties caused by 

mental illness. Insel supports his claim by supplying valuable statistics, showing why 

mental illnesses are so lethal, and explaining how we can help solve the problem. His 

purpose is to make us aware of mental disabilities so that we know what is going on with 

20% of the human population so we can help them get the help they need to feel better. 

He speaks in a professional tone for his audience of educated adults and children so 

they know what happens in the brain and can be prepared to take care of their own and 

help those who can’t help themselves.  

Talks, TEDx, director. ​Mental Disorders as Brain Disorders: Thomas Insel at TEDxCaltech.​   

YouTube,​ YouTube, 8 Feb. 2013, ww.youtube.com/watch?v=u4m65sbqbhY. 

 
 How to Change People’s Minds 

Christopher Dwyer, Ph.D, in the article, “How to Change People’s Minds: The Art 

of Debunking” (2018), explains that in order to change people’s minds, we must appeal to 

their attention by following a set of three easy steps and being careful to keep them from 

resisting change. Dwyer supports his claim by giving example scenarios of when and 

where to persuade people to believe your views and by supplying lists of strategies that 

work. The author’s purpose is to teach people how to present their views so that they 

persuade others to feel the same way without any feelings getting hurt. He writes in a 

professional, educational tone that appeals to his audience of educated people that are 

having a difficult time spreading information and their views.  

Dwyer, Christopher. “How to Change People's Minds.” Psychology Today, Sussex  

Publishers, 6 Apr. 2018,  

www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/thoughts-thinking/201804/how-change-peopl 

e-s-minds. 

 
 History of Mental Illness 

Ingrid Farreras in the module, “History of Mental Illness” (2019), summarizes that 

mental illness diagnosis and treatment have come a long way from where it started, but 

that we have a lot more we have left to learn about it. Ferreras’ supports her explanation 

by listing the events of mental illness starting in 6500 BC up to now, explaining how 

doctors treated mental illness, and how much there is still left to learn today. The author’s 

purpose is to detail all the gory details of mental health treatment throughout the 

centuries in order to help us see and understand all that goes into helping someone with 

a mental illness and how much they’ve gone through. Ferreras writes in a professional 

tone without biased or her own opinions for her audience of people concerned about 

mental health to know that what they are reading is the cold, hard truth.   

Ferreras, Ingrid G. “History of Mental Illness.” ​Noba​, 2019,  

nobaproject.com/modules/history-of-mental-illness