I think this is the first time ive ever posted in " health and recovery " lol.
Anyways…
What are ways to break the stigma of mental illness.
How can it be broken down for people to understand that we not sword wielding maniacs ??
Any ideas.
Regards
Wallafish
I work for a mental health advocacy group that works to change policies and laws to better serve the mentally ill population. I also live openly as a schizophrenic, but it is safe for me to do so. I live in an accepting community. It might not be safe for everyone.
I think it’s impossible. I subscribe to a lot of news about schizophrenia and every single day there’s a news story about a schizophrenic who has been arrested or something.
The only thing you can do is bust the stigma around yourself. Let people get to know you first before you tell them you have schizophrenia. Or don’t tell them at all if it’s none of their business.
I’m very open about my diagnosis (it doesn’t mean I go out talking to everyone I have Schizoaffective). Sharing your personal story is a way of breaking stigma, but you need to be comfortable with it.
Do you guys think Schizoaffective or Schizophrenia has a worse ring to it ?
I truly believe breaking stigma is possible. Mainstream media is not always the safest source of information.
But it’s valid the way you feel about it.
Just don’t tell them. let them put you in a different box. Be Ok before telling you are not. show them you are ok instead of being written off completely and they treat you differently. I think we want to be treated better by telling. Rare
I think everyone’s a potential schizophrenic em-selves.
I believe there are many famous people who either have schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. They haven’t “outed” themselves because of the stigma. But, that is exactly why they should out themselves and speak to the media. Whether we like it or not, most people get their information from the media (television, radio, internet, etc.). So, I hope they will speak out and destroy the horrific myths about these illnesses. We are generally very peaceful, empathic and compassionate people, and the public need to be aware of that.
I don’t talk about my illness at all unless I know them really well. I prefer that people see that I am a contributing member of society before I list to them everything that is wrong with me. Besides I don’t let my disorder define who I am. It’s a part of me, but equal to everything else that is a part of who I am.
People at the gym became my friends. It was obvious to them that I was MI because I kept putting my social foot in my mouth. But they were tolerant of me and I was able to forgive myself enough to stay with it. Now, some of them are fb friends and I value them very highly. They think I’ve come along way and aren’t afraid to tell me.
Someone asked me the other day what I work with and I answered I am on the pension.
They looked shocked 
.
He asked what reason and I said I don’t want to talk about it but why not…
If someone asks again I want to answer them I have schizophrenia.
There is stigma but I want to speak up and I do want to talk about it I think.
I wonder if I will get to tell the woman I have a crush on.
I want to take her on a date.
The news coverage of it in the nineties and around that time often focused on schizophrenics who ultimately acted violently and either wounded or killed family members. I think that’s the worst part of it, I remember a few of those stories as a kid growing up and they make it seem like every schizophrenic could be a killer. It definitely felt like selective reporting
I would say that networks don’t focus on the negatives of it like they used to, but honestly they don’t tend to talk about it at all. Most of the more recent news pieces I found on schizophrenia involved simulations with headphones.
I could be wrong, I haven’t seen all news!
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