Trigger warning: this article discusses a clinical mental disorder.
The stigma surrounding schizophrenia is unfortunately not a new phenomenon, with various individuals placing those with schizophrenia as the odd ones out. The discrimination against schizophrenia is unacceptable and very damaging towards individuals with the disorder. The lack of awareness about what constitutes schizophrenia, and its symptoms, is primarily what leads to the discrimination that those with the disorder experience.
What Constitutes Schizophrenia?
According to the American Psychological Association, schizophrenia is a dire mental illness that is “characterized by incoherent or illogical thoughts, bizarre behavior and speech, and delusions or hallucinations, such as hearing voices.” Individuals with this disorder experience various harsh circumstances and, in various cases, are not able to decipher reality from their hallucinations and delusions. Schizophrenia should be taken seriously and not as something to laugh about. This disorder begins in various individuals from early adulthood years.
The Stigma Surrounding Schizophrenia
Not only is discrimination against schizophrenia full of disrespect, but it also inhibits people from seeking the help they need. This type of treatment is emotionally damaging. Calling someone with schizophrenia a “madman” or a “schizophrenic” reinforces this normalization that relates schizophrenia with “crazy” individuals. There is also the stigma that sees individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia as violent people, when in actuality, they are more likely to be violated than be violent. All these labels play a role in the normalization and stereotype of the disorder.
Various stereotypes believe these individuals to be out of control, manic, ”worthless, insincere, foolish, and dirty”. Discrimination in various areas of their lives, whether at home, work, or in society, has become something that you see on a regular basis. The media also plays a big role in this wrongful portrayal. They portray individuals with schizophrenia to be crazy and use the term “schizophrenic” to mean so. In fact, some research has shown that newspapers have shown bias against individuals with schizophrenia, and this, in turn, prompts many individuals to take things at face value, especially when these newspapers are known.
Impact of the Stigma
Individuals who experience this sort of discrimination are at a greater chance of developing low self-esteem, an internalized stigma, depression, substance abuse, and an overall dissatisfaction with their life.
Internalized stigma is when individuals begin to internalize the stigma against them and their illness and believe the irrational points made about their illness. In short, they start to believe they are “madmen” and violent people, amongst other untrue concoctions.
These impacts are all detrimental to someone’s mental health. On top of the fact that the disorder of schizophrenia is not an easy walk in the park and requires the proper assistance in terms of medication and social support, these individuals are discriminated against from various outlets in society and are completely disrespected.