Labeling theory of mental illness - Labeling and Drugging for Mental Illness.
We need to realize first that labeling, based on the medical model of psychiatry, is a method and a theory, although widespread and the standard approach in psychiatry and psychology, it isn,t universally accepted in professional in all professional communities. It is convenient, it gives therapist a clear-cut approach to handling individual situations, but most of all, it has been used by the psychiatric world in a way that leads to labeling and drugging. That is, identifying symptoms, assigning an appropriate label, and administering what is deemed appropriate drugs. This aspect of labeling, along with the stigmatization of individuals who have mental health disorders, or who exhibit symptoms of such disorders, is what has come under the most fire in many professional circles.
In a study by the American Sociological Association, of the theory of labeling in mental illness, the conclusion was reached that,
"consistently support the prediction that the likelihood of social rejection increases after others gain knowledge of an individuals status as a mental patient."'
SAMHSA's, the US Government mental health association, gives this guideline,
Before You Label People, Look At Their Contents. SAMHSA states,
"When mental illnesses are used as labels-depressed, schizophrenic, manic, or hyperactive-these labels hurt."
The Bridadier General of the United States, and Director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, Loree Sutton, stated concerning many forms of mental illness, "Stigma is a toxic, deadly hazard, which must be eliminated," in a public service announcement.
"Labels lead to stigma -- a word that means branding and shame. And stigma leads to discrimination. Everyone knows why it is wrong to discriminate against people because of their race, religion, culture, or appearance. They are less aware of how people with mental illnesses are discriminated against. Although such discrimination may not always be obvious, it exists-and it hurts."
Another thought to consider with persons who have or who have had mental illness is that labels stick. Even after a person may have recovered from bouts with serious mental illness, the label may have a long-lasting impact on other's perception of him or her. If a person recovers from cancer, do we refer to him or her as "being cancer," or he or her "is cancer". No, because we know that cancer is something that we can recover from and be cancer-free. With mental illness, labels are made, "he is OCD," "she is bipolar," as if to say, the word "bipolar" sums up one's whole existence, we don't need to take that person's actions good or bad too seriously, because it all comes down to the fact that he or she "is" this or that label.
We need to realize that mental health disorders or difficulties, like all other illnesses, is something that one can overcome, that one can recover from. It isn't a label that needs to stick for the rest of one's life.
When one looks up on the Internet key words of google, self help, one can find many directory searches for depression self help, adhd self help, but very few for bipolar disorder self help. Why? Because it seems as if most who display bipolar disorder symptoms never fully recover from them, and end up on long-term or, in reality, life-time psychiatric care, that very few are looking for ways to help themselves. The label can be rather damning, and persons have a tendency to entrust themselves to psychiatrists and medicine, rather than to try to help themselves.
This is one of the dangers of labeling. If you have the gout, you will no doubt be encouraged to change your diet. If you "are bipolar," then that is what you are, why try to change your life?
So labeling can have profound effects on the will one exerts to help him or herself out of a situation. One encouraging account in relation to autism can be of help to persons with mental illness. In one well-known example of a boy, "Evan" who had suffered with autism, his mother exerted a tremendous amount of resources and therapy for her son's help, she didn't give up. Within a few years, the boy no longer qualified for the label, "autistic," he had sufficiently recovered from his symptoms.
The same has happened with many who have been labeled with ADHD, bipolar disorders, and other serious disorders. So, don't let yourself be put down by the label, don't stop trying to help yourself and fight your way out of the cocoon. If you do, you will gain a victory over stigma, and come out of it a more compassionate and understanding person, better able to take on the next set of challenges life presents.
Words Can Be Poison
The stigma of mental illness is real, painful, and damaging to the lives of people with mental illness. Stigma prevents them from getting the treatment and support they need to lead healthy, normal lives. Many people don't want to be... labeled as "mentally ill" or "crazy."
Stigma keeps people from getting good jobs and advancing in the workplace. Some employers are reluctant to hire people who have mental illnesses. Thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), such discrimination is illegal. But it still happens!
Stigma leads to fear, mistrust, and violence. Even though the vast majority of people who have mental illnesses are no more violent than anyone else, the average television viewer sees three people with mental illnesses each week-and most of them are portrayed as violent. Such inaccurate portrayals lead people to fear those who have mental illnesses.
Stigma results in prejudice and discrimination. Many individuals try to prevent people who have mental illnesses from living in their neighborhoods.
Mayo Clinic similarly states,
"Stigma is a very real problem for people who have a mental illness. Based on stereotypes, stigma is a negative judgment based on a personal trait - in this case, having a mental health condition. It was once a common perception that having a mental illness was due to some kind of personal weakness. We still have a long way to go to overcome the many misconceptions, fears and biases people have about mental health, and the stigma these attitudes create.
Stigma may be obvious and direct, such someone making a negative remark about your mental health condition or your treatment. Or it can be subtle, such a someone assuming you could be violent or dangerous because you have a mental health condition. These and other forms of stigma can lead to feelings of anger, frustration, shame and low self-esteem - as well as discrimination at work, school and in other areas of your life. For someone with a mental illness, the consequences of stigma can be devastating."
Controversy and Resolution in Labeling Theory
Labeling theory was first applied to the term "mentally ill" in 1966 when Thomas Scheff published Being Mentally Ill. Scheff challenged common perceptions of mental illness by claiming that mental illness is manifested solely as a result of societal influence.
He argued that society views certain actions as deviant and, in order to come to terms with and understand these actions, often places the label of mental illness on those who exhibit them. Certain expectations are then placed on these individuals and, over time, they unconsciously change their behavior to fulfill them.
Criteria for different mental illnesses are not consistently filled by those who are diagnosed with them because all of these people suffer from the same disorder, they are simply fulfilled because the "mentally ill" believe they are supposed to act a certain way so, over time, come to do so.
Scheff's theory had many critics, most notably Walter Gove. Gove consistently argued an almost opposite theory; he believed that society has no influence at all on "mental illness". Instead, any societal perceptions of the "mentally ill" come about as a direct result of these people's behaviors. In Gove's view, the mentally ill behave unnaturally a lot of the time because of their disorders, so we treat them differently.
Most sociologists' views of labeling and mental illness have fallen somewhere between the extremes of Gove and Scheff.
On the other hand, it is almost impossible to deny, given both common sense and research findings, that society?s negative perceptions of "crazy" people has had some effect on them. Disney movie are one commonly known example, of labeling person's as "crazy," and "lunatic," many of their most popular movies have scenes of ?crazy? people or humanized animals running amuck.
Words Can Heal
Here are six steps you can follow to help end the stigma which surrounds mental illness:
1. Learn more. Many organizations sponsor nationwide programs about mental health and mental illness. Several are listed at the end of this article.
2. Insist on accountable media. Sometimes the media portray people who have mental illnesses inaccurately, and this makes stereotypes harder to change.
3. Obey the laws in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life, including housing, employment, and public transportation. Mental illnesses are considered a disability covered under the ADA.
4. Recognize and appreciate the contributions to society made by people who have mental illnesses. People who have mental illnesses are major contributors to American life-from the arts to the sciences, from medicine to entertainment to professional sports.
5. Treat people with the dignity and respect we all deserve. People who have mental illnesses may include your friends, your neighbors, and your family.
6. Think about the person-the contents behind the label.
Avoid labeling people by their diagnosis. Instead of saying, "She's a schizophrenic," say, "She has a mental illness." Never use the term "mentally ill."
SAHMSA
Programs to End Stigma
Many National and State groups have begun projects and campaigns to reverse stigma. These groups offer a range of programs and materials, from speakers bureaus to training programs for mental health professionals. To get involved, call them. And to learn more about mental health, call SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center at 800-789-CMHS (2647).
SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center
P.O. Box 42557
Washington, DC 20015
800-789-CMHS (2647)
World Wide Web:
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov
E-mail: info@mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/
The Anti-Stigma Project
1521 South Edgewood Street, Suite C
Baltimore, MD 21227
Phone 410-646-0262, 800-704-0262, or
Fax 410-646-0264
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
730 North Franklin Street, Suite 501
Chicago, IL 60610
800-826-3632
Erasing the Stigma of Mental Illness Serving Hands International
4607 Mission Gorge Place
San Diego, CA 92120
800-219-4854
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
The National Empowerment Center
20 Ballard Road
Lawrence, MA 01843
800-769-3728
The National Mental Health Association Information Center
2001 N. Beauregard Street - 12th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311800-969-NMHA
The National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse
1211 Chestnut Street, Suite 1000
Philadelphia, PA 19107
800-553-4539
References for mental illness stigma and labeling:
1. Before You Label People, Look At Their Contents. (Retrieved June 30, 2009).
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SMA96-3118/default.asp
2. Kroska, A. and Harkness, S. , 2004-08-14 "Exploring the Modified Labeling Theory of Mental Illness Using Affect Control Theory Measures and Predictions" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, Hilton San Francisco & Renaissance Parc 55 Hotel, San Francisco, CA, Online <.PDF>. 2009-05-26 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p110021_index.html
American Sociological Association. http://www.asanet.org
3. Labeling Theory (Retrieved June 29, 2009). Wikipedia.org. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labeling_theory
4. Mental health: Overcoming the stigma of mental illness. (May 29, 2009). http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mental-health/MH00076
Labeling Theory (Retrieved June 29, 2009). Wikipedia.org. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labeling_theory
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