STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATION

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Stigma and discrimination are strong social menaces. Sadly, as destructive as its effects are, the subject is under-discussed and often neglected. 


DISCRIMINATION

This is an unfair or prejudicial treatment of certain categories of people, based on the grounds of; race, age, sex, or disability. This is simply denying someone of their basic human rights because of who they are or what they believe in through unjust distinctions made in policy, law, or treatment.


How to deal with discrimination.

Anyone living in this reality must not give in or feel sorry for themselves no matter how overwhelming it may be. You must find a way or ways to deal with it for your physical and mental well-being.

  1. Build on your strength. Silence critics with your success. Focus on your core values and beliefs. This motivates you to succeed and numb the negative effects of bias and discrimination.
  2. Don't feel sorry for yourself. Discrimination can knock you to the ground, don't stay on the ground. Dwelling on your difficult experience of discrimination and what you have lost to it may increase your risk of falling into depression and anxiety. Leave the past in the past, don't overthink it, instead, prepare a plan that makes tomorrow better.
  3. Seek a support system. Discrimination may make you start believing and internalizing others' negative beliefs and perceptions of you even though they are false. You need to connect with the people you love and trust, don't isolate yourself. You need your family and friends to keep reminding you how exceptionally unique you are. The moment you start believing you are not good enough, they will be there to tell you, you are more than enough.
  4. Seek professional help. Psychologists, therapists, and counsellors are trained experts you should consider talking to. They will help you manage symptoms of stress and depression since discrimination can be associated with symptoms of depression. Discrimination can be difficult to deal with but with professionals lending a helping hand, together you will find healthy ways to cope.


STIGMA

Stigma is the negative stereotype, defining someone by their unfortunate conditions rather than who they are as an individual. Putting a label on them that sets them aside and puts them at a disadvantage.

A lot of people living with certain disorders, (be it a mental illness or fatal diseases like HIV/AIDS) are denied access to adequate help from the fear of being treated unfairly and stigmatized. Such "victims" thus delay or completely avoid seeking help out of their concerns about being treated less than equal or even the possibility of them losing their jobs and livelihood.

This unjust treatment has made worse the condition of people living with mental illness and other similar conditions. It has also prevented them from reaching out for adequate help and attention, the one they deserve.


Types of stigma

Stigma is often from the shallow knowledge and inaccurate representation of certain health conditions, like mental illnesses or HIV/AIDS. Researchers have found out different types of stigma and categorised them into three. They include;

  1. Public stigma. This involves the negative and discriminatory attitudes that others carry about certain health conditions or personalities. It is simply people pulling people down. Seeing themselves as superior to others living with certain conditions or disabilities.
  2. Self-stigma. This is the negative mindset and attitude that people living with a certain disability or illness have towards themselves and their condition. It is a self instituted shame, lowering their self-esteem, expectations, and reach. This is born from the belief that they are not and cannot be considered equals. They have resolved that they cannot live up to standard because of their conditions, disabilities, or illnesses. Simply self-destruction.
  3. Institutional stigma. This refers to stigma on a formal font. The systemic form of it. It involves regulations, laws, and policies of the government and private organizations that limit opportunities for people living with certain disabilities or illnesses, either deliberately or unintentionally. An example includes screening off qualified physically disabled applicants for a job opportunity.

The negative effects of stigma.

The harmful results of stigma cannot be overemphasized, they include;

  1. Reluctance or inability to ask for help or treatment.
  2. Family and relationship crisis due to the lack of understanding by family, friends, and associates. 
  3. The feeling of shame, isolation, and hopelessness. These could eventually lead to suicide.
  4. Loss of job, opportunities, and social life.
  5. Exposure to harassment, bullying, and physical violence.
  6. Low self-esteem.
  7. Self-doubt is the feeling that your condition cannot improve or that you can't beat your illness.


Ways to deal with stigma.

  1. Get the treatment you need and deserve. Don't let stigma win. Don't let anything or anyone stop you from getting the help you need and deserve. Do not allow the fear of being labelled to rob you of your right to reach out for the help you need. Help is out there, waiting for you, let nothing stop you from getting it. You deserve it.
  2. It is not true. People make derogatory comments a lot of times from a place of ignorance and sometimes cruelty. Be smart and strong enough not to let these false comments get into your head. They are not true and so you should disregard them.
  3. Counselling. Talking to an expert about your condition or illness will ease your path to recovery and proper management. Therapists or counsellors will help you improve your self-esteem and boost your confidence to do what you have to do to get better.
  4. Socialize. Victims of stigma and discrimination are naturally forced into living in the shadows, please don't be one. Reach out to people you trust and love; family, friends, pastors, coaches, etc. Join a support group, online or in-person, engage in conversations, don't isolate yourself. Reach out for all the support you can get.
  5. Don't label yourself. Always remember that you are not your illness and your disability or condition does not define you. You are not 'psychotic', you have psychosis. You are mostly what you believe you are, there is power in your tongue.


How to put an end to stigma and discrimination.

We all can do better, we all have a role to play in making our communities more inhabitable for everyone including those living with certain disadvantages. We all need to make conscious and inclusive decisions to stop stigma and discrimination in all its forms. We should support recovery and encourage people at disadvantage, either from an illness or physical disability to reach out for help. Let's all do better by;

  1. Learning and spreading only facts.
  2. Being friendly with people living with certain conditions. They are people, not an illness.
  3. Treat everyone with respect and dignity. Don't label anyone living with a condition or discriminate against anyone different from you in any way. 


Life is tough enough on its own already, don't make it even tougher for anyone by stigmatizing or discriminating against them. Spread love.



REFERENCES

https://www.apa.org/topics/racism-bias-discrimination/types-stress

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/servicesandsupport/stigma-discrimination-and-mental-illness

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/stigma-and-discrimination

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