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Adannaya Ihediwa
Mrs. Greene
Capstone - 7
21 October 2016
Misconceptions of Mental Illnesses

Misconceptions occur when one creates an opinion based on faulty understanding.

Although they may be insignificant on their own, misconceptions often lead to prejudice and
discrimination which have considerable consequences. Due to these misconceptions, those with
mental illnesses are forced to live with a stigma, the biggest barrier to mental health care. This all
stems from the vast misconceptions associated with mental illnesses.
A leading misconception about mental illness is that it is a choice, People believed that
some mental health problems such as eating disorders and substance abuse were self-inflicted
(Davey 2013). This is an immense problem because this creates a lack of sympathy for those
with mental illnesses compared to those with physical illnesses such as, diabetes or cancer. The
reason for this is that people do not have a complete understanding of such mental illnesses. For
example, many believe that anorexia is simply an individual thinking they are overweight. It is,
however, a complex psychological disorder which makes one truly see oneself as obese, causing
them to lose weight by any means possible. Similarly, drug abuse is judged the same way;
although one did initially choose to use drugs, many fail to realize that it becomes one who
physically cannot stop using drugs. [The experiment] showed that alcohol abuse was
stigmatized significantly more than the other illnesses. Leukemia was judged more benignly.

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(Corrigan, 2005). If people were to view mental illnesses as they viewed physical illnesses, the
stigma would be reduced dramatically. According to an experiment performed by psychologists
from Columbia University ...None of the cardiac patients reported social rejection; in fact, some
of them had experienced favorable responses, such as receiving gifts as a show of sympathy or
words of concern. (Lai, Hong & Chee, 2000). The mental illness patients however did
experience social rejection from both strangers and loved ones.
Another large misconception is incited by the few mental illness patients that commit
violent acts. Because of this minority the general trend of the studies carried out indicate that
the mentally ill are perceived as aggressive, violent and dangerous (Wig 1997). This stereotype
is mainly perpetuated by media stories [that] paint violent perpetrators as mentally ill without
providing the context of the broad spectrum of mental illness. (Friedman 2014). As a result, the
audience associates violent acts with all mental illnesses, disregarding type and severity.
Although many believe they can separate what is shown on the media from reality, they cannot.
In fact, Corrigan and Watson, renowned child psychologists, broke this observation down into
three steps. One, the stereotype (what is shown on the television), which is that people with
mental illnesses are dangerous, incompetent, and weak in character. Two, the prejudice (the
feeling that viewers get from witnessing the aforementioned), which is usually anger and/or fear.
Lastly, three, the discrimination (the action carried out from the feeling aforementioned), which
is usually avoidance or withholding of working/housing opportunities (Corrigan & Watson,
2002). Even when broken down, the stigma all begins with the misconception. This is why most
professionals believe that with education and awareness, we can end the stigma.

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Not only are these misconceptions the cause of the stigma itself, but they are also the
cause of self-stigmatization. Self-stigmatization is most common in the form of shame, it
overrides even the most extreme of symptoms (Byrne 2000). It it is also associated with low
self-esteem and low self-efficacy which in turn leads to a lack of motivation to engage in the
community and seek appropriate health care. This can be detrimental to one with mental illness
because the individual may begin to fulfill the stereotypes rather than fight them. However,
research also suggests that, instead of being diminished by the stigma, some become righteously
angry because of the prejudice that they have experienced. (Corrigan & Watson, 2002).
Although rare, this reaction would actually be a positive effect of self-stigmatization; with this
reaction, the mentally ill feel empowered to change how others perceive them. They do this by
regular visits to their psychiatrist and by seeking active roles in the community.
Overall, the misconceptions associated with mental illnesses are the cause of both the
negatives outcomes of the stigma and the stigma itself. Because of these misconceptions, many
are left to learn about mental illnesses through mass media which is known for using false
stereotypes. Sadly, most people believe what is shown to them on these media outlets, that is
why we need to raise awareness about mental illnesses.

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Works Cited

Byrne, P. (2000). Stigma of mental illness and ways of diminishing it. BJPsych Advances.
Retrieved September 13, 2016.

Corrigan, P. W., Lurie, B. D., Goldman, H. H., Slopen, N., Medasani, K., & Phelan, S. (2005,
May 01). How Adolescents Perceive the Stigma of Mental Illness and Alcohol Abuse.
Retrieved September 09, 2016.

Corrigan, P. W., & Watson, A. C. (2002, February). Understanding the impact of stigma on
people with mental illness. Retrieved October 11, 2016.

Davey, G. (2013, August 20). Mental Health & Stigma. Retrieved October 17, 2016

Friedman, M. (2014, May 13). The Stigma of Mental Illness Is Making Us Sicker.
Retrieved October 15, 2016.

Lai, Hong, & Chee. (2000). Stigma of Mental Illness. Stigma of Mental Illness,42(3), 111-114.
Retrieved September 1, 2016.

Wig, N. N. (1997). Stigma Against Mental Illness. Indian Psychiatry Journal, 39(3), 187-189.
Retrieved September 1, 2016.

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