The effects of discrimination on individuals before and after diagnosis Flashcards
How does stigma lead to discrimination ?
The stigma attached to MHP is more of an issue when people decide to act on their thoughts. This is no longer a cognitive issue but becomes a behavioural issue - eventually leads to discrimination.
Before diagnosis
2 examples
Poppy a teen has started to experience symptoms of depression. Not sought out help yet. Becomes withdrawn and has no energy to do much outside of school = less time for friends and they notice that when she’s in school she is scruffy, unclean. They decide they want nothing to do with her especially as she looks scruffy and is not fun, they reject her. = discrimination
Dawn who is shopping in town hear a voice in his head which he does not recognise . Its a nasty critical scary voice. Dawn panics and falls to the group and shouts that someone is talking to her and she’s afraid the voice is out to get her. Some stare some walkby fast. Just around the corner, another women same age as dawn is having a seizure, number of pedestrians slow down and stop to help. = help her but not dawn = discrimination.
After diagnosis
Include examples
Scott has been diagnosed with schizophrenia has always been popular with his nephews and visits them often. Since his diagnosis, his sister has decided for the time being, Scott should not visit and he may say, do something to scare the boys. The boys are told that scott is too ill to visit, Scott is excluded = discrimination.
A call centre operator, Frank has been diagnosed with depression. He was off work for a couple of weeks waiting for his anti depressants to work and is good enough to return to work where there is a promotion. Frank supervisor recommends Frank not to go for the role and rather encourages other of his peers who have no psychological problems. to go for the role as she heard the boss is looking for someone to ‘get up and go’
