Stigma and stereotypes about mental illness
- Lev Narozhny
- 3 days ago
- 9 min read
Updated: 6 hours ago
Mental illness remains one of the most misunderstood and stigmatized topics in modern society. Despite scientific progress, access to information, and constant conversations about mental health, attitudes toward people with mental disorders are still shaped by fear, myths, and stereotypes.
These misconceptions don't just distort reality, they prevent people from seeking help, building careers, forming relationships, and generally living fulfilling lives.
Why did we decide to write about this?
We decided to write this article because we've met people who believe in spiritualism more than they believe in science and scientific data. It was very easy to understand this from the phrases we heard ourselves:
"Depression is not an illness, it's just sadness."
"Schizophrenia can be controlled by willpower."
"Pills change personality."
"Psychiatrists are just making money off their patients."
Every time we hear words like these, we realize how deeply ingrained the myths about mental health are in society.
What is stigma?
Before we go any further, let's define the terminology. Stigma is negative attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors toward a person based on some distinguishing characteristic. In this case, a mental disorder. It manifests itself in three forms:
Social stigma, negative reactions and stereotypes from society.
Self-stigma, when a person begins to believe these negative beliefs about themselves.
Structural stigma, institutional restrictions, laws, or cultural norms that limit people's opportunities.
Stigma transforms health into a moral judgment. Instead of viewing depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia as medical conditions, society often perceives them as weakness, instability, or even a threat.
Where is the line between normality and illness?
We are all different, and that's wonderful. Each person has their own quirks, idiosyncrasies, and personality traits. That's normal. But illness, whether physical or mental, shares one commonality: it shares a common clinical history and recurring symptoms that have been studied in large groups of people.
We have a simple formula for understanding:
If a condition causes suffering, pain, and reduces a person's quality of life, it's an illness. If it doesn't worsen a person's life, it's most likely just a quirk. For example:
"I want to commit suicide." A healthy person shouldn't experience a persistent desire to die. In this case, it could be depression, bipolar disorder, or another mental health condition.
"I'm a lesbian." Sexual orientation in itself doesn't reduce a person's quality of life or cause suffering. It's not a disease, but a part of human diversity.
Common Stereotypes
When it comes to mental health, many people immediately conjure up conspiracy theories: that mental illnesses are largely invented. This is especially true for depression and ADHD. Some believe that pharmaceutical companies are simply making money by selling placebo pills or conversely, that psychoactive substances are used to control people or turn them into "vegetables."
However, there are clear definitions of illnesses in medicine, and depression and ADHD are recognized as mental disorders. Accordingly, diagnostic and treatment protocols have been developed for them. Psychiatrists do not profit from patients purchasing a particular medication. In many cases, they first try to help a person without medication, recommending psychological counseling. But there are situations where medications are truly necessary to stabilize a person's condition, reduce anxiety, or restore clear thinking. After this, psychological therapy can be effectively administered, if needed.
If someone has doubts about the active ingredients in a pill, this can be easily verified: any medication can be sent for laboratory analysis.
People who talk about "mind control" often have never taken such drugs themselves. In most cases, medications only stabilize a person's emotional state but do not change their personality. People with schizophrenia, medications can eliminate hallucinations but can this really be called "mind control"? Quite the contrary, it restores contact with reality.
And yes, there are medications that can temporarily reduce physical and mental activity. However, they are usually used short term, for example, during acute psychotic episodes, when a person needs quick and safe stabilization.
One of the most common myths is that people with mental illness are dangerous and prone to violence. In fact, research shows the opposite: people with mental illness are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. You probably know that if someone commits a serious crime, the court often orders a psychiatric evaluation. Its purpose is to determine whether the person was sane at the time of the crime and whether they were able to understand and control their actions. Statistics show that in most cases, people who commit crimes are found to be sane. This means they understood what they were doing and were able to account for their actions. Therefore, the common stereotype that serious crimes are most often committed by people with severe mental disorders is untrue.
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Another common stereotype is that mental illness is a sign of weakness. That a person simply needs to "pull themselves together," "try harder," or "think positively." This view ignores the biological, genetic, and neurochemical causes of mental disorders, as well as the influence of environment and life circumstances. People with mental illness often have impaired brain function, so blaming such a person for "why can't you be normal" can be like blaming a wheelchair user for "just get up and walk."
Another stereotype is that people with mental illness are unreliable and incompetent. Because of this, many employers are afraid to hire people who are open about their diagnosis. However, with proper treatment and support, most people with mental disorders work successfully, build careers, and live full lives. Thanks to medicine, many illnesses can now be controlled with medication and psychotherapy.
The icing on the cake is depression. It's probably the most stigmatized disorder. In my personal experience, especially among the older generation, depression is often dismissed as simply sadness. "Nobody used to whine and people lived." But as soon as the topic of schizophrenia comes up, the attitude changes dramatically: "Yes, of course, you need medication; the person is insane." Isn't that hypocritical? To discount one disorder and acknowledge another just because it sounds worse? I can only offer one piece of advice for people: thanks to medicine, you can live a full life. Don't put off seeing a doctor, why suffer when you can avoid it?
Let's talk about the mental illnesses we hear about most often
Depression
Depression isn't just sadness. Sadness is just one of its symptoms. Symptoms of depression can include:
Sleep disturbances.
Loss or increase in appetite.
Anxiety.
Physical pain.
Apathy.
No strength to even get out of bed.
Loss of interest in life.
There are forms of depression associated with external events, such as the loss of a loved one or prolonged stress. But there are also endogenous forms of depression, linked to brain biochemistry; this type of depression can only be treated with professional help. Devaluing depression never helps a person cope with it. On the contrary, it increases feelings of guilt, loneliness, and helplessness.
Severe forms of depression often end in suicide. It's one of the leading causes of death among mental illnesses. Doesn't sound so "frivolous" anymore, does it?
The good news is that there is a solution. A combination of psychiatric and psychological support is considered the most effective. Medication and therapy help a person regain their resources and gradually return to life.
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Eating disorders
Anorexia, bulimia, and compulsive overeating are different manifestations of the same group of disorders. They often have similar underlying causes: anxiety, stress, a desire for control, and low self esteem. Interestingly, society often shows more sympathy for these disorders because they are visible. If the body changes, then the problem is "real." If the disease isn't visible, then it's "imagined."
Anorexia is a deliberate refusal to eat. The person appears emaciated, loses hair, teeth decay, nails become brittle, and loses the strength even for basic movement. It is the most deadly mental disorder.
Compulsive overeating is a persistent obsession with food and a loss of control over the amount consumed. These patients appear different from those with anorexia. They are often overweight.
Bulimia is a cycle of severe restrictions, binges, and attempts to compensate for the food consumed through vomiting, grueling exercise, or other methods. It's a vicious cycle that is extremely difficult to break without professional help. These patients often have digestive problems, dental problems, and a sore throat, as the vomit irritates the throat.
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ADHD
There is a common stereotype that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a new generation disease. In fact, most illnesses, both physical and mental, have existed throughout human history. They simply didn't have precise scientific names before. Now that a clear understanding of the disorder has emerged, it's possible to identify them in patients and help them with treatment. The same can be said about cancer: people once explained it as "God's punishment," but today we understand the biological causes of the disease.
ADHD can manifest itself in varying degrees. For some people, the symptoms are relatively mild, while for others, they significantly complicate life. The most common symptoms of ADHD are:
Difficulty concentrating.
Easily distracted.
Problems with task and time management.
Frequently forgetful.
Impulsiveness in actions and speech.
Feelings of inner restlessness.
Difficulty completing tasks.
Chronic procrastination.
It's important to understand that ADHD isn't laziness or "bad parenting." It's a neuropsychological condition related to how the brain works. While some people learn to manage their symptoms on their own, in many cases, professional help significantly improves their quality of life.
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Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is one of the most stigmatized mental disorders. It's often claimed that such people are dangerous to society, but in reality, sufferers often prefer to be alone, and statistically, those with schizophrenia are more dangerous to themselves than to others. Symptoms can include:
Hallucinations.
Delusions.
Thinking disorders.
Difficulty concentrating.
Social isolation.
Decreased emotional expressiveness.
It's important to understand that schizophrenia is not a split personality disorder, as is often believed. It's a complex neuropsychiatric disorder that requires treatment and support. Schizophrenia is a disease that always progresses. Compared to depression or ADHD, which can remain in one stage for a long time, schizophrenia will always progress. We recommend seeking professional help as soon as possible to identify the problem early, when it's easier to treat. With proper and consistent therapy, many people with this diagnosis can live stable lives.
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The role of the media
The media plays a huge role in shaping public opinion. People with mental illness are often portrayed as dangerous villains or tragic, broken figures. Much less often do we see realistic images of people working, making friends, falling in love, and simultaneously undergoing therapy.
Romanticization of mental illness
In recent years, another problem has emerged: the romanticization of mental disorders. Social media, film, and popular culture sometimes create images of "creative depression," "brilliant madness," or "mystical sensitivity." Illnesses are beginning to be perceived as something mysterious, spiritual, or even inspiring. This is a dangerous trend.
Romanticizing mental illness can lead to several serious consequences:
People begin to underestimate the severity of disorders.
Some begin to idealize the illness.
People may self diagnose.
The real suffering of people with diagnoses is devalued.
Mental illness is not a source of mystical power or an element of aesthetics, nor is it a special mindset, nor does illness give sufferers an advantage in creative pursuits. This is all a myth. Mental disorders are a health condition that requires treatment, support, and professional help.
Sources: The romanticisation of mental health problems in adolescents and its implications Schizophrenia and creativity
The Impact of stigma
The consequences of stigma can be very serious.
People delay seeking help out of fear of judgment. Self-stigma destroys self-esteem. Families conceal diagnoses to avoid social pressure.
Stigma isolates people. And isolation, in turn, worsens the illness.
How to change the situation
Reducing stigma is possible through education, open dialogue, and honest stories.
It's crucial to start taking mental illnesses as seriously as physical illnesses. If someone breaks their leg, no one tells them to "pull themselves together and move on." They receive treatment, support, and time to recover.
Mental disorders deserve the same treatment. It's also important not to romanticize mental illnesses or seek mystical or spiritual explanations for them. Illnesses are not spiritual enlightenment or a sign of "special sensitivity." They are medical conditions that are studied scientifically and require professional help.
How a friend or relative can help
Support from loved ones plays a huge role in the healing process. Sometimes the most important thing is simply asking someone how they're feeling and showing them they're not alone. We don't recommend taking on the responsibility of being a psychologist for someone who requires many years of training. Therefore, even frank conversations can do more harm than good. We recommend asking the person about their condition without judging their experience.
Help the person find a good specialist. It's easy to research doctors and psychologists online these days. You can read patient reviews, look at the specialist's education and professional experience. If the specialist has a lot of negative comments or there's no public information about their education and qualifications, it might be better to look for another doctor. A friend or relative can help:
Look for specialists in the city.
Suggest an initial consultation.
Provide emotional support.
Remind the person of the importance of treatment.
It's important to remember that loved ones can't replace professional help, but they can be an important part of their support.
Fighting stigma is fighting ignorance. The more we talk calmly and honestly about mental health, the sooner society will stop perceiving a diagnosis as a death sentence.
Stigma won't disappear overnight.
But every conversation, every article, and every honest story makes society a little more mature and humane.
And it's important for us to be part of this process.
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