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STIGMA AND YOUR CHILD
Would Your Child Ask for Help?
Children ask for help with their homework, help when they have a sore throat or
sprained ankle. They count on support for their sports/academic/artistic interests and
abilities. But how easily would your child ask for help or support for mental health
issues?
There are a multitude of stresses our children must navigate; stresses academically,
relationally, and individually along with family and life issues outside of school. They
learn much knowledge academically but what about the life skills needed to manage
when the stresses and challenges of life overwhelm them? Although it is more
“acceptable” to go to counseling today than it was even 30 years ago, the stigma of
mental health is alive and well.
Many children and adolescents come to therapy saying, “There is nothing wrong with
me.” or “I am not a problem.” or “I’m strong enough to handle it on my own.” However,
these statements are the result of stigma’s representation of mental health. Stigma
represents an emotional struggle or being overwhelmed as a personal deficiency rather
than a condition. We go to a medical doctor to get help with what hurts, not because we
are a problem or that we are not strong enough.
Stigma Teaches Your Child Powerful Messages
To understand where the power of stigma comes from, consider how our children
experience the idea of mental strife, mental health, and mental help.
 WORD USAGE Words have the power to create literary masterpieces. They
also wield the power to create powerful impressions about a person and/or
their emotional struggles. Word usage trivializes pain and struggle; pain that
any one of us could experience at some time in our lives.
Crazy, Wacko, Nuts, Psycho, Cuckoo, Looney,
Insane, Sicko, Lunatic, Demented, Maniac . . .
 CONSISTENCY/PERVASIVENESS OF WORD USAGE
The prevalence of
word usage can subtlely imply that the words imply some “truth”. Derogatory
words about mental strife are used casually in communication. Even in the
Dictionary of Cautionary Words and Phrases journalists use for terms to avoid,
slang for mental illness is not included.
 SLANG communicates judgment. We wouldn’t think of calling a burn victim
“cooked” or “crispy” or a cancer patient “skeletal” or “polluted”. These words
would dismiss the seriousness of their condition. However, mental slang is so
common in our culture; we don’t give it much thought to say “nuts”, “psycho”,
“lunatic” . . .
 PERSONAL CHARACTERIZATIONS Mental illness/concerns are conditions
experienced by someone, NOT part of the person’s identity. We don’t refer to a
person with cancer as a malignant/evil person. However, we commonly refer to
mental conditions in terms of the person not the condition.
Schizophrenics, Psychotics, Psychopaths . . .
 PSYCHIATRIC LABELS USED AS INSULTS to those whose actions are
disapproved of feed the stigma that discredits people who are truly
suffering/struggling.
 MEDIA, MEDIA, MEDIA Unrealistic and inaccurate portrayals abound in
movies, TV, news, cartoons, ads, books, theater, . . . Common themes connect
mental illness with violence, crime, danger, ridicule . . .
Madman, Psychopathic killer, Maniac, . . .
 COMEDY – JUST JOKING! For those who characterize people who object to
jokes about mental health as “too serious” or as having “no sense of humor”, ask
yourself this question: How often do you hear jokes about someone’s chemo
experience or recovery from battle wounds? Jokes about suffering are not
funny.
Given these reinforcements of stigma, would your child ask for help? Keep in mind
that The National Alliance on Mental Illness states 1 in 10 children has an emotional
concern that causes problems at home, play, or school.
Stigma often:
 Keeps many from seeking help and support
 “Teaches” a child they are inadequate if they struggle
emotionally/psychologically
 Hinders child from communicating feelings
 Influences self-esteem
 Conveys shame to those who do seek professional help
In the book, Media Madness, by Otto F. Wahl, Ph.D., the author talks about the media’s
portrayal of mental health and that the continuation of the stereotypes in stigma is
worse to deal with than the illness. Mental illness is dehumanizing and becomes a
secret shame.
Dr. Wahl states in his book that the media’s portrayal:
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Informs public knowledge
Shapes attitudes and perpetuates negative attitudes
Influences social behavior and collective treatment of those struggling
Manipulates emotions
Creates misunderstanding/misconceptions
Contributes to stigma/discrimination
Describes and reinforces stereotypes
Predominantly portrays relationship of mental illness with violence
Increases reluctance/barriers to treatment and recovery
Influences the way people are treated and view themselves
Laughable views undermine self-esteem
Communicates individuals are not worthy of respect
Encourage insensitivity
Maintains rejection
Misuses terminology
Portrays unreal images
Overuses slang and disrespectful terms
Portrays people with mental illness as fundamentally different
Characterizes illness as the person rather than the condition
Portrayals indicate negative judgment of the person
Trivializes painful and often prolonged suffering
Labels are used as insults, source of humor, and comical conditions
Responses to the negative humor/portrayal are dismissed as too serious or
vulnerable to criticism
Continues devaluation
Increases reluctance to use insurance for mental health
Increases isolation of those suffering
Marks those with mental illness as undesirable
Leads to discrimination and reduced opportunities
Increases discrimination in housing, jobs, public accommodations, access to
health insurance
Dehumanizes people
How Can Stigma Affect My Child?
So how does stigma affect the child who might be experiencing test anxiety, social
isolation, being overwhelmed with too many expectations at once, a loss of
friendship/relationship, a bullying situation, pressure for performance, grade concerns,
or college/future decisions? Below is a list of what a child needs when facing
challenging situations and how stigma may influence getting those needs.
CHILDS’ NEEDS
1. Understanding
2. Support
3. Encouragement
4. Respect
5. Responsiveness from others
6. Acceptance of themselves
7. Belief of their struggle
8. Accurate self-judgment
9. Reduced suffering
10. Feeling of connection/inclusion
11. Accurate information
12. Intact reputation
13. Reassurance
14. Dignity
15. Treatment if needed
16. Resilience
STIGMA’S AFFECT ON CHILDS’ NEEDS
Limits understanding
Deprives people of valuable support
Influences views of self as weak/deficient
Induces shame
Encourages insensitivity
Influences social attitudes to be rejecting
Minimizes and devalues mental struggle/pain
Judgments made on inaccurate information
Prolongs suffering & causes more emotional pain
Impedes participation by social distance
Inaccurate & misleading information
Contributes to discrimination
Shapes minimizing behavior
Ties suffering to flaw in the person
Hinders treatment/recovery
Increases vulnerability and myth that toughness
is keeping emotions in & handling them alone
HOW TO REDUCE STIGMA
 EDUCATION: in the family through open, honest communication
in the schools by challenging cultural thoughts and ideas
in the media by more accurate information & less stereotyping
ACCURATE INFORMATION
 ADVOCATE FOR: education
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the validity of emotionally difficult times
anyone experiencing difficulty
CONFRONT STEREOTYPES
BE SENSITIVE TO WORD USAGE
SPEAK ABOUT THE SITUATION, NOT THE PERSON
AVOID SLANG
CONFRONT JUDGMENTS ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL
ENCOURAGE, SUPPORT, INCLUDE, BELIEVE, ACCEPT, AND
REASSURE THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING
HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD
Be aware of your child’s moods.
Have realistic expectations.
Take their feelings seriously.
Be supportive.
Keep communication lines open.
Maintain routines.
Listen attentively.
Don’t take their distress personally.
Don’t diminish the importance of their struggle.
Listen without being defensive.
Seek help if you are concerned.
ENCOURAGE
SUPPORT
INCLUDE
BELIEVE
ACCEPT
REASSURE
THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING