eek\'s Dis Schizo: 90 (Bring Change 2 Mind\'s Second PSA) Duration: 1:31 Stigma

Question

eek's Dis Schizo: 90 (Bring Change 2 Mind's Second PSA) Duration: 1:31 Stigma is perhaps the most difficult aspect of any disorder. This may be especially true for schizophrenia- a disorder that has been vilified and exaggerated in the media Explore the web site Bring Change 2 Mind (http/www.bringchange2mind org) & watch the video above. Watch some of the many video clips on the home page, which contain first-person accounts of mental iliness and the impact on stigma on the lives of those individuals. In what ways do you hold prejudiced beliefs or views about mental illness? use words like crazy or nuts? call someone schizo or mental? Would you marry a person who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia or another serious mental illness? it is too easy to say that stigma shouldn't exist and the world would be a better place without it-but how can this be accomplished for you, in your own life? qx ENG 906 PM

Explanation / Answer

I do regretfully admit that in many instances of my life, I have engaged in acts and verbalized statements that perpetuate the stigma that many of patients with mental illness face. I have frequently used words like "psycho" and "crazy" to denote activities that I perceived to be not "normal". However, when I began studying Psychology, I was able to learn much more about schizophrenia and was also able to interact with many patients. These experiences made me much more sensitive to the use of these terms, as I realized that these individuals, who may be already undergoing severe distress, tend to become more socially withdrawn as they may fear judgment. I agree that it is easy to simply state that stigma should not exist. However, as human beings, we err and make mistakes in our perception of others. What I feel should also be considered noteworthy is that we actively fight against our own set of biases and adopt a more empathetic perspective. From my personal experience, awareness of the mechanisms of the disease and its symptoms, along with face to face interaction with individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia helped me become more aware of my attitudes and has led me to the path of overcoming them.

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