stigma

People with mental illness represent one of the most deeply stigmatized groups in our culture. Learn more about it here.

Toxic Masculinity is Killing Men, literally
What do you think of when you hear the word “man”? What kinds of images does it produce, what expectations, what preconceived notions. We have heard it all before “A man is someone who works blue collar or earns his money through the sweat of his brow.” or also “You can’t be a real man without the body of a real man”. Also we hear “Men should be leaders and heads of the house, and should be providers.”. (DISCLAIMER: I am expressing things that I have heard said about men, these statements do not necessarily represent my own personal beliefs on how a man should act. Furthermore, what is about to follow is not a fact for every single man, or even necessarily most men. What follows is simply a call to bring awareness to the very real and very important topic of men’s mental health.) Or how about this one, the classic, the ultimate measure of a man: “Real men don’t cry.” WHAT?!? Real men don’t cry. Let’s talk about that.
By Zenith5 years ago in Psyche
Invisible Illness, Visible Me.
I was 13 years old when I first learned that I had JSLE (Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), and from that moment, lay in my hospital bed, a thousand and one wires pulling at my skin, my world did not just turn upside down, but was erased and rebuilt. I was no longer certain of who I was. I was now Lupus Jade - sick, fragile, and very much at risk of everything and anything thrown my way.
By Jade Hadfield5 years ago in Psyche
Me vs DWP!
. Me vs DWP! My personal medical details about myself on social media. . Today I have a Personal Health Assessment by phone.
By Ross E Fortune Lombardi5 years ago in Psyche
Naked Cowboy
One Sunday, in the middle of a snowstorm, a naked man walked down a busy highway in Michigan. He was wearing only a leather cowboy hat, his clothes and shoes were abandoned next to his truck, which was settled into a ditch along the highway.
By Judey Kalchik 5 years ago in Psyche
A Strong Woman
Being called a strong woman has become a personality trait. A trademark. It’s said in commendation, as a way to stereotype your muliebrity because it sustains evidence of your existence. People pay tribute to you when you are a strong woman. It allows people to assign you value – otherwise, who would you be and what would you signify within a world where you are small? Being called a strong woman is a tautology that I hear in every narrative of my name.
By Seneca Basoalto5 years ago in Psyche
Adults Self-Harm Too
When you think about self-harm, what goes through your mind? What is the first thing that you think of? You probably think of self-harm – or self-mutilation, whatever you want to call it – as something that only angsty, anxiety-ridden teens or do. But that's not the truth.
By Shan5 years ago in Psyche
The Dyslexic Writer
I’m a copywriter. And I’m dyslexic. Actually, thanks to the second point, the first one is temporarily untrue. I lost my job due to being dyslexic. Now, before you start screaming discrimination in my defense, it was undisclosed. I couldn’t really have expected my ex-boss to consider something she had no knowledge of, could I?
By Jodie Adam5 years ago in Psyche
The Employers Discrimination (Not Today - Thankyou)
Ok from the start, it is important that everyone knows just what this is all about. The subject of Dyscalculia is not as widely out there as it should be. particularly not out there with employers (given the advancements in technological leaps) and the support that these technologies can provide in ways of supporting people with this disability. This disability can actively intrude upon all aspects of a sufferer's daily life involving anything to do with the cognitive functioning surrounding mathematically-based concepts – such as 'telling the time', 'counting money', & whilst 'performing mental calculations.' (The latter one causing the most destructive feature) An everyday working example of this is 'knowing how much change to expect from the shopkeeper when paying with cash.' A person with this disability can easily be short-changed; either accidentally or on purpose.
By Jonathan Townend5 years ago in Psyche
End The Stigma
Society has a funny way of making stigmas for the uncomfortable and the unfamiliar. Society says an addict is the homeless man down the street or the young mother not taking care of her children. Society says an addict doesn’t have a job, doesn’t take showers, and looks dirty. Society says mental illnesses are “chosen” by white women, with a lot of responsibility to take on. Mental illnesses are designated for women who drive around a soccer team 4 times a week and pick their 3 kids up from three different schools daily. Society says addiction is “a choice” made by someone who is weak, uneducated, and who grew up with parents who didn’t care for them. Society looks at someone and thinks they know that person’s life story. I am here to tell you that is all a lie.
By TheAddictMom5 years ago in Psyche
Burns, Marks, and Scars.
My scars do not deceive your eyes They are wounds from a fight I once fought That I won, I conquered, I survived These scars are apart of me, something I was once ashamed of and every once and A while I still feel that struggle but then I realize who I am.
By Daja folds5 years ago in Psyche
ADHD Isn't a Joke—It's a Struggle, and a Gift.
“ADD isn’t real,” he said with a smirk. “It’s just a nice way to explain why our kids misbehave.” The natural smile that had been illuminating my face suddenly went into rigor mortis. He said…ADD…isn’t real?
By Alexandra Corlett5 years ago in Psyche
One Secret
‘How do I explain everything to Lara when I don’t understand it myself? She’s going to be so pissed at me, I promised and now all I want to do is bail. Why is it so hard to talk about it? Why do I do it when I feel so ashamed? Why is it the only thing I feel I have any control over, I don’t really, because I can’t stop’
By KC5 years ago in Psyche