Mental Illness

Back in January 2017, Theresa May, pledged to tackle Mental Health stigma as part of her vision for the Conservatives shared society. The Conservatives announced plans to transform the way mental illness is dealt with in classrooms, at work and in our communities.

I believe that given the stakes, we cannot afford to be sceptical or dismissive about any initiative on stigma.

Just as mental illness is a common phenomenon, so is stigma. Mental health problems affect around 450 million worldwide, of whom more than three quarters come from middle and low income countries. 

It has been stated that at least one in four people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their life and one in six adults have a mental health problem at any one time.

In a recent study, three out of four patients with mental illness reported that they had experienced stigma. The same study also found that one in four members of the public thought depression was a sign of weakness and said they would not employ a person with depression; around a third would not vote for a politician who had depression, and one in five said if they had depression they would keep it to themselves.

A substantial number of people with mental illness remain untreated due to the stigma and any that do seek treatment, it is often when their illness has become so severe that there is little option for them or their relatives to obtain specialist help. Barriers preventing patients seeking help or adhering to treatment include a lack of positive experiences, poor knowledge of mental disorders and their treatment, reliance on faith based or religious healers, and specific taboos such as marital or child-bearing prospects.

Mental illness, and by implication stigma, has a profound impact on individuals, their families and the community as a whole.

It looks like the wider impact of stigmatisation has not been studied in detail. However, I did find some evidence that carers and families of affected individuals can be similarly affected. 

The de-stigmatisation of mental illness would require a complete change in attitude by the medical profession and Society as a whole.  It is completely unethical to discriminate against anyone on any count, and in this regard mental illness is no different. 

We a know that the best outcomes are achieved by ensuring any mental disorder is treated vigorously in anyone who presents with physical disease. It is entirely unacceptable that patients with severe mental illness should years earlier than the general population.

Employers also change in that their attitudes are stuck in the past. There is widespread discrimination of people who have mental illness; more often than not this group believe they are unemployable. I cannot wait to see how the Conservative government will tackle this.

Stigma of mental illness is a serious issue that requires a concerted and collaborative political, social and medical approach to eradicate. The negative impact it has on patients and their families and carers must not be underestimated.

This is going to be a tough cookie for any Government.  The January announcement gave fresh hope and got people thinking on how an issue that has blighted thousands of lives and continues to do so, will be tackled.  

It's now August and I am still watching this space....