Chiefs from the National Institutes of Health discuss how adopting appropriate terminology to describe mental illness and addiction can help to minimise stigma and improve how these patients are handled in healthcare institutions and in society as a whole. You can read the full article here: Words matter: Language can reduce mental health and addiction stigma
Stigma was defined by the authors as negative connotations toward individuals based on their distinguishing features. Research conducted for more than a decade has showed that, for those suffering with mental illness or substance use disorders, stigma can have a negative effect on their health and function as an obstacle to seeking treatment.
Stigma does not only come from friends or family, as it can also be from clinicians and healthcare professionals. The authors highlight that clinician’s stigma-related bias can lead to a treatment-averse mindset and poor clinical care, including the inability to use proven treatment approaches.
Thus, by experiencing constant stigma from everyone around them, people with mental illnesses and addiction can begin to internalize those thoughts, which can later contribute to low self esteem and feelings of uselessness, and it can become a constant cause of distress, exacerbating symptoms and obstructing therapeutic success.
They cited various research that suggest that adopting scientifically accurate terminology and words that centre the experience of people with mental illness and substance use disorders is one of the most effective ways to reduce stigma. They believe that a shift in the vocabulary used towards these individuals is critical for mobilising resources towards mental health and addiction services, as well as reducing stereotypes that prevent those in need from seeking or getting treatment.
Reducing stigma is a hard task, but changing the way we speak about these topics is fundamental, because it will ultimately allow those suffering from these conditions to seek help, since in England:
- 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem in any given week
- One in eight adults (12.1%) receive mental health treatment
- It is estimated that 75% of people with mental health problems may not get access to the treatment they need
If you are someone who is suffering from any mental health issue or addiction, please contact us at Salus Wellness Clinics for free advice and to explore possible solutions we can offer.