The role of stigma and discrimination Special rapporteur Dainius Puras, a UN right to health expert, says that two of the main challenges to mental health are stigma and discrimination. Especially in lower-income countries where mental health education is not a government priority, a person with a mental health illness carries the label along with their family. Sasha’s family, for instance, is experiencing “courtesy stigma.” They are worried of being shunned by society because of Sasha’s intense panic attacks. Economic, cultural, political, and religious factors magnify discrimination against people with mental health illnesses, as well as their families. Because of this, globally, people living with a mental health disorder are not treated with dignity. Like Sasha, some of them experience violations of their rights within their family. Others, under the care of psychiatric institutions. Generally, they are denied better employment opportunities, higher education, marriage and the chance to have children, and holistic, long-term, and compassionate treatment for their condition. According to research on stigma, people “with mental illness are often viewed as ‘strangers’ where this characteristic of ‘strangeness’ frequently results in social distancing.” This treatment, unfortunately, is not specific to the Philippines and other developing countries. It’s common in first-world countries, as well. Globally, there is a serious lack of understanding of the needs and rights of people with mental health disorders. Some treatment facilities, especially those in under-funded hospitals and clinics, provide unsanitary living conditions to long-term patients. Additionally, the mental health workers in such facilities may not be trained comprehensively. This sometimes results in them physically and verbally abusing their patients. It’s imperative that the public perception of mental health become more holistic, compassionate, and informed. Until then, says Gerard Quinn, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, “the discrimination that prevents people with mental health conditions from leading full and productive lives will continue.” Quick read: • Stigma and discrimination aggravate human rights violations against people living with mental health conditions. • Examples of rights violations include denial of employment and educational opportunities, marriage and procreation, and access to compassionate long-term treatment. • Because of under-funding and lack of knowledge, mental health patients experience unsanitary living conditions in long-term facilities, forced admission and treatment, and physical and verbal abuse. Rights violations in mental health care Ironically, many of the violations of the rights of individuals with mental health disorders happen during “treatment.” Some patients are forced to admit their disabilities; others are coerced to accept treatment they don’t understand. During such treatments, some individuals are restrained physically or are given medication to subdue them. Sources: Mfoafo-M’Carthy, M. & Huls, S. (2014, March 10). Human Rights Violations and Mental Illness: Implications for Engagement and Adherence. SAGE Journals. https://journals.sagepub.com/i/10.1177/2158244014526209#:~:text=In dividuals%20with%20 mental%20illness%20are,%3B%20physical%20abuse%3B%20and%20negligence. Asanbe, C., Gaba, A., PsyD, & Yang, J. (2018, December). Mental Health is a Human Right. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/international/pi/2018/12/mental-health-rights Baumann, A.E. (2007). Stigmatization, Social Distance and Exclusion Because of Mental Illness: The Individual with Mental Illness as a “Stranger.” International Review of Psychiatry. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17464791/ World Health Organization. (2021, June 10). New WHO Guidance Seeks to Put an End to Human Rights Violations in Mental Health Care. World Health Organization news release. https://www.who.int/news/item/10-06-2021-new-whoguidance-seeks-to-put-an-end-to-human-rights-violations-in-mental-health-care 25 26