1. In my opinion there are many things affecting stigma around mental illness. For those who are not suffering from mental illness, some believe that those suffering are crazy or seeking attention. People believe this because there is little physical signs of mental illness and some do not believe what they cannot see. Many people are fearful to talk to a doctor about how they are feeling due to the stigma that surround mental illness. Nobody wants to be labeled with a mental disease because they are fearful that people will look at them different or treat them as if they are more fragile than someone without mental illness. For those who suffer from mental illness, it is easy to self-stigmatize because you feel like nobody else feels how you are feeling. Having a mental illness such as anxiety or depression can feel lonely and confusing. People feel like it’s all in there head or that it will just go away if they ignore it, which progressively over time makes it worse. A lot of people feel shame about their mental illness which should not happen. You cannot decide your brain chemistry, but with the proper help you manage it.
2. Culture has a huge impact on how people respond to mental illness. For some cultures it is seen as weakness to have a mental illness. The ways that different cultures view mental health and illness can lead to a decrease in those seeking treatment for mental illness due to fear of being discriminated against. For various cultures and religious groups, depression specifically is seen as weakness of the mind. Because of this, people strongly influenced by these religions may refrain from treatment which could lead to more serious complications in the future. For many cultures men are the strength of the family and women are the care takers. If either one of them seeked treatment for mental illness people may say they can no longer do those tasks, which is not true. They can do their jobs better if they get treatment.
