51% of UK adults associate mental health with shame
New study by UK Anti-Stigma Alliance surveys 2,000 adults – and, shockingly, 12% of respondents think individuals should be ashamed of a mental health problem!
There have been great strides forward in recent years to combat the stigma around mental health. Yet the results of a new survey shared by an alliance of mental health charities suggest there’s still a long way to go.
Photo by @felipepelaquim
According to the report, 51% of respondents felt ‘a lot’ or ‘some’ shame associated with living with a mental illness. Worse, 56% of respondents experiencing mental ill health either ‘strongly’ or ‘somewhat’ agreed that they shame. And worst of all, 12% of respondents felt that those with mental health conditions ought to feel ashamed!
Another concerning attitude is that 22% of respondents thought that terms such as ‘sociopath’ and ‘totally OCD’ were either ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ acceptable everyday terms. The figure was 20% for the term ‘a bit mental’.
Respondents also associated varying levels of shame with different conditions: 56% of respondents associated a ‘great deal’ or ‘fair amount’ of shame with schizophrenia, but that level fell to 51% for bipolar disorder and to 48% for depression.
And yet 66% of respondents also said that members of the public should be more considerate in how they talk about mental health so that they did not leave people upset or ashamed.
The report provides fuel for the If It’s Okay campaign launched by the UK Anti-Stigma Alliance, a partnership between mental health charities Mind, Time to Change Wales, See Me Scotland and Inspire. The initiative takes its name from the phrase, ‘It’s okay not to be okay’, which is commonly used in campaigning on issues to do with mental health. The point is that for many who experience mental ill health, this slogan may not ring true.
As part of the new campaign, billboards in more than 150 sites across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, will share the experiences of those who have suffered such stigma. The campaign is also being extended to social media. The aim is to call on members of the public to challenge shame and discrimination felt by and imposed upon those living with a mental health diagnosis.
One example is Natalie from Cardiff, who says: ‘I’ve been told “there’s no such thing as depression, people just need to get on with things”, or that “you’re the last person I’d expect to suffer mental illness”. Those comments led to feelings of shame when I was really struggling with my mental health.
‘When my burnout eventually peaked, I turned to my GP for support but I still felt alone and confused after being prescribed SSRIs without an explanation as to what was happening to me or why. It was a few kind words from a nurse taking my ECG reading that provided a moment of realisation for me. She said, “this is your body’s way of telling you to slow down love and look after yourself.”’
Sarah Hughes, CEO of mental health charity Mind (which is part of the UK Anti-Stigma Alliance), adds: ‘Shockingly, our survey shows that over half of the population associate mental health with shame. That’s why we are campaigning, so more people understand that it really is okay not to be okay.
‘No one should feel that they have to go through a difficult time alone. Not talking only makes us feel worse and we want those of us experiencing a mental health problem to feel encouraged to speak up. We are here to listen and help them access the support they need.’
In related news:
Charities urge politicians to commit to building a mentally healthier nation
