STIGMA and prejudice can have a big impact on the lives of people Essay

STIGMA and prejudice can have a big impact on the lives of people dealing with mental illness - Essay Example In addition, the paper will allow an in-depth analysis of the ways treatment can be provided to schizophrenic people. Understanding the Peculiar Terms In literal terms, schizophrenia is a mental disorder in which an individual who breaks down his or her thought process depending upon the emotional experience. Schizophrenia is greatly characterized by a number of factors of which stigma is one with profound impact (Lucas & Phelan, 2012). Stigma is referred to as resistance by public and person’s own attitude towards schizophrenic situation. Also to note is the fact that critical attitude have created notions and prejudice in societies where it has become critical for the schizophrenic patients. Herein, prejudice means an act of decision-making without making any necessary investigation into the issue (Ries, Miller, & Fiellin, 2009). According to the article entitled, â€Å"STIGMA and prejudice can have a big impact on the lives of people dealing with mental illness†, peo ple with mental illness have delayed early treatments because they have been under severe stigmatic fears. The questions remain regarding the factors which have rather created the fear of stigma among mentally ill person to a high degree (Heath, 2013). As a matter of fact, the factors involved with stigma against schizophrenic people are no different from other mental sickness such as depression, anxiety, hypertension etc (Knifton & Quinn, 2013). Public Stigma There are a number of factors and issues which have made stigma and prejudice a critical barrier for people with mental illness in seeking early treatment. General public involved in stereotyping and prejudice making stigma as a critical hindrance point against people with mental illness, especially patients with schizophrenia, include employers, relatives, family, friends and service providers. Each set of these people have maintained different attitudes and behaviors against mentally ill person. It is one true fact that almo st every person in the world has one or more mental problems that they deal with each day. Some of them reach to a higher degree of mental state which is probably treatable when they are provided a normal daily routine with maintained social interactions with other members of the societies (Goffman, 2009). It has often been noted that employers deny opportunities to employees with mental illness. This takes away job and accommodation from a person. It will not be incorrect to state that such an attitude towards mentally ill person creates an air of stigma in the society. This clearly gives an idea that a person who might be aware of his or her symptoms indicating schizophrenia would not opt for treatment from a psychiatrist because of the fear of stigma (Osuji, 2012). Thus, it can be said that employers play a major role in creating stigma for people with mental illness. Stigma, often called as social distancing has been noted in different walks of life. Be it relatives who would no t like to associate with a schizophrenic person. In addition it is expected of inconsiderate relatives that they would make it more critical for the person with mental illne