As we continue our theme of understanding the stigmas of mental illness, this week we will dive into the stigma that “It’s their fault.” Unlike physical illnesses, there is a great deal of shame associated with having a mental illness. The basis of that shame is that somehow the person who has the illness (or their families) is to blame. This is a hurtful and dangerous misunderstanding. Let’s flesh this out.
Many mental illnesses have an organic or genetic base. Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorders, Anxiety Disorders and Spectrum Disorders (such as Autism) all have strong genetic links. There are also genetic predispositions for other disorders such as addiction and anxiety disorders.
Prenatal care, infections, head injuries, hormones and many other organic issues can also affect mental health. New information about the brain is being discovered regularly by neurologists and soon we will have better understandings of both the causes and some potential cures for mental illnesses.
The danger of ignoring the organic components and blaming the victim, is that it implies that with more effort, the disease can be overcome. Overly simplistic solutions that ignore organic causes may be good advice, but are incomplete. Well-meant examples include: be more disciplined, choose to think positive thoughts, have more faith, or “just try [some new idea]”. When the simple solutions don’t work, the sufferer feels even more shame for failing and becomes less likely to seek medical or professional help which might, in fact, bring relief.
It is true that behavior choices exacerbate or improve most mental illness conditions. In fact, the mental health field is generally labeled, “behavioral health”. While this term is accurate in that most mental illnesses are diagnosable when the thinking patterns are so disruptive that a person can no longer function behaviorally, the term itself implies that if we just behaved better, our minds would be clear. But, that correlation is not always so direct. If 25% of people experiencing homelessness have serious mental illness, perhaps “just get a job” is not an easily obtained solution.
People with mental illnesses can make well-informed behavioral choices to improve their lives, especially if guided by skilled psychiatrists and psychologists. This may include taking medications, adding lifestyle changes of exercise and nutrition, attending support groups, modifying job choices, changing relational patterns, and increasing spiritual engagement.
The stigma of blaming mental illness sufferers for their plight needs a dose of grace. When we or those around us struggle with depression or anxiety, instead of multiplying their pain with assumptions, judgments and isolation, we can bring God’s comfort with our emotional support, listening to understand, and prayer.
by Tova Kreps, LCSW, President & Co-Founder
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To continue the conversation on mental health stigmas, join Wellspring Thursday, April 30, as we seek to Shatter the Stigmas through our live stream event from the comfort of home, with an online silent auction, Dr. Ed Stetzer, videos and interactive discussions with our panel and our audience.
