Anti-stigma Programs Would Improve Mental Health Laws

[HereSince1628]

http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Mental_Health_430/Anti-stigma-Programs-Would-Improve-Mental-Health-Laws.shtml


"Stigma is comprised of four components: cues, stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination, but discrimination is the only component that can be directly addressed by laws," explains Janet R. Cummings, assistant professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management.

Because extant federal laws directly address discrimination, they provide an important foundation to improve disparities in health care, education and employment outcomes for those with mental illness that result from the stigma process. Despite this, the experts found that protections in the laws are not uniform for all subgroups with mental illness.

Cummings adds that the effectiveness of existing and future laws can be bolstered with anti-stigma programs that address the other components of stigma, such as stereotypes and prejudice, which are not directly addressed by the laws.

"Anti-stigma programs that target attitudes and behavioral intentions toward those with mental illness directly address components of public stigma that are beyond the reach of legislation," says Cummings.

[Neoma]

1. It seems like people don't realize...

That normal everyday people have mental health issues. I mean, a lot of people are triggered into an illness due to trauma, stress, neglect, abuse and so on. It can happen to anybody.

But I already hear eye rolls and folks saying sarcastically, "Like that'd happen to me."

[HereSince1628]

2. Laws look at acts of discrimination against mentally ill, discrimination exists because of attitudes

If government programs introduced honest education about mental illness into middle school and secondary curricula there would be something to replace the "street knowledge" that is responsible for stigmatic attitudes responsible for discrimination.

We've witnessed that everyone want's to crack down on the mentally ill to make gun ownership safe. That is mostly due to a prevalent attitude about the dangerousness of mental illnees laid over fear of gun violence.

The attitude exists in society because mistaken understanding is not critically challenged by solid education

[Neoma]

3. I doubt schools would do that.

Even so, I have a weird concept of what a school should be anyways...

[HereSince1628]

4. Many schools include health information in their curricula

we get taught about infectious disease, the importance of hygiene, vaccinations etc.

Some, maybe fewer than have a century ago, include education on reproduction and STDs.

I don't think mental illness education would have hot buttons similar to sex ed or evolution, imo American education mostly don't do it because it's not done.

For Americans there is a life-time risk of mental illness of about 50%. We think nothing of educating people to the signs of breast cancer or heart attack which bracket mental illness risks.

Many mental disorders reach the half-way point of their maximum incidence rates between ages 16 and 30. Seems like educating people who are entering into the high-risk portions of their lives relative to mental illness would be a reasonable public health intervention, that would also address the ignorance that enables stigmatizing attitudes.

[fizzgig]

5. i think it would be a very appropriate topic to add to health curricula

i seem to remember my health class touching briefing on eating disorders, but only briefly.

i think education in public schools would be an effective tool in combating the stigma around mental health.

[HereSince1628]

6. I agree so does a Wash State Sen who is on that body's k-12 education committee

see the other thread I posted

[fizzgig]

8. good on her

[cbayer]

7. Would love to see more of this, particularly starting with young children.

I am hopeful that the mentally ill population are next in line to get attention that decreases prejudice and marginalization.

[HereSince1628]

9. Unfortunately as it is the message about mental illness to kids is basically "Loonie Tunes"

I remember in the late 1950's watching cartoons and Daffy-Duck or Porky Pig holding up signs which were literally stigmatizing language....Crack Pot, Screw Ball, Bats in the Belfrey etc.

By the time I went to first grade my vocabulary was well prepared for the playground.

[cbayer]

10. And then there was PeeWee Herman, who did much of the opposite.

He presented really oddball characters as charming, lovable and with different ways of perceiving reality.

[HereSince1628]

11. My pop culture background is devoid of PeeWee Herman.

[fizzgig]

12. do you have netflix?

if you do, they have peewee's playhouse on dvd. definitely worth a watch.

[neversaydie]

13. social and emotional curriculum

I remember in kindergarten we had nap time. we learned about keeping our hands to ourselves and how to get along with other kids. Of course that was almost 50 years ago (:wow . When my daughter entered kindergarten in 1999, they laughed when I asked about nap time. My daughter had homework!... All of the focus seemed to be on academic achievement and testing. And it got tougher each year. My son entered kindergarten 3 years later and there was more homework. My 5-year-olds were STRESSED OUT IN KINDERGARTEN. I kept hearing stuff about "raising the bar" and "young kids are sponges" and all that. And that's true. However, you have to make sure that you don't raise the bar so high that they can't reach it. Set them up for failure and then wonder why they are struggling, or stressed.

Educating a child is not just about academics. In the first years we should model for them appropriate behavior, show them what it looks like to interact with other people. Not all kids have the ability or are comfortable with making new friends, dealing with social situations that come up for them for the first time. My nephew is learning about "situations" and "solutions" and he gets to choose which situation card he wants to do. It's a game, and he likes to play.

It goes into interpersonal communications skills, relationship skills, how to deal with bullying,... all kinds of stuff. I think I've seen SEL (social and emotional) curriculum being implemented, but I need to learn more.