Decreasing stigma of mental illness By: Sarah Zanelli and Carly Szewczyk By: Sarah Zanelli and Carly Szewczyk

What exactly is a mental illness or disorder? It is a behavioral or psychological problem which starts with either emotional distress or abnormal behavior There are two different types of mental illnesses: Psychoses and Neuroses. It is a behavioral or psychological problem which starts with either emotional distress or abnormal behavior There are two different types of mental illnesses: Psychoses and Neuroses.

psychoses It’s a major illness with symptoms such as; delusions and hallucinations. This includes: – Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It’s a major illness with symptoms such as; delusions and hallucinations. This includes: – Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Neuroses It is a less severe illness and it is much easier to treat. This includes: – Anxiety, OCD, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression. It is a less severe illness and it is much easier to treat. This includes: – Anxiety, OCD, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression.

Stigmas of mental illness Assumptions that a person with a mental illness could be harmful or dangerous. It could be a negative comment on a persons mental illness or a treatment that they happen to be getting for the illness. Assumptions that a person with a mental illness could be harmful or dangerous. It could be a negative comment on a persons mental illness or a treatment that they happen to be getting for the illness.

The effects of stigma The person may be rejected by friends and family. Being harassed and made fun of for something the person cannot do anything about. The refusal to get treatment for their mental illness. The person with the mental illness might even pretend that nothing is wrong. The person may be rejected by friends and family. Being harassed and made fun of for something the person cannot do anything about. The refusal to get treatment for their mental illness. The person with the mental illness might even pretend that nothing is wrong.

From a personal experience.. Before this past summer I had never been in contact with someone who had a mental illness. At camp I met a staff member named Dan, unbeknownst to me was a schizophrenic. We spent a lot of time talking and getting to know one another. I did not find out about his illness until one of the other staff members told me about his condition a day before I left camp. Dan had to be one of the nicest people I have ever met, it just goes to show that you shouldn’t judge people before you get to know them.