Stigma refers to when a person is viewed in a negative way because they have a distinguishing characteristic or personal trait that 's thought to be, a disadvantage preventing them from being accepted into a normalized social order. Stigma can cause living with a mental health illness to be more difficult. It is common for people to have negative attitudes or beliefs toward people who have a mental health condition for example depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
Stigma is based on fear and misunderstanding of things perceived as abnormal. Many people hold negative opinions towards people with mental health problems because they have little or no understanding of the issues involved and because they are relying on myths and misconceptions.
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When they seek help, it can provide relief by identifying the problem and reducing the symptoms that interfere with your work and personal life. A survey researching the attitudes of the Irish public to mental health in January 2007, carried out by the National Office for Suicide Prevention of the Health Service Executive (HSE) found that 6 out of 10 adults wouldn 't want people knowing if they were experiencing mental health …show more content…
This may include difficulty trying to explain gaps in their CV due to periods of ill mental health. People may not just experience stigma when applying for jobs, but also when returning to work, their colleagues may treat them differently or they may experience bullying, mockery and demotion. There is also a fear of people not respecting their privacy and confidentiality by telling others in the workplace about their mental illness, negative reactions to themselves or their work by employers or co-workers, or being held at a lower standard than those without a mental illness. In a study of patients perceptions of stigma 42% of patients suffered discrimination in their work place/jobs (Stigma Research and Action, Vol 1, No 1, 67–72