About 20% of people will develop a mental disorder (The Science of Mental Illness, 2005) which will enable them to live to their life’s full potential. A mental illness can include depression bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive compulsive disorder. It can affect their thinking, feelings and behaviour (The Science of Mental Illness, 2005) and can lead to loss of employment resulting in poverty and even homelessness (Wilton, 2004). They are slapped with a social stigma due to something out of their control (Wilton, 2004) and have to go on hearing ignorant comments that people who have a mental illness are crazy, dangerous should be kept in an institution, or that it is so simple as to just get over it (The Science of Mental Illness, 2005). Now add that on top of being LGBTTQ* and bam you got a double stigma. LGBTTQ* people with a mental illness are discriminated against by mental health services for being LGBTTQ* and by their community for having a mental illness (Kidd, Veltman, Gately, Chan, and Cohen, 2011). With almost no one to turn to for support how can people expect them to get better?
People who fit the criteria for help will get the support they need (Wilton, 2004) but where do the LGBTTQ* people with a mental illness fit if even their own community will not accept them. People with a mental illness should seek help from a professional and LGBTTQ* people are reluctant to seek help especially when the service is perceived to be heterosexist (Kidd, 2011). They need positive relationships and supports with friends and family as well as maintaining an active lifestyle which can all help their mental illness (Wilton, 2004). This can be quite hard for an LGBTTQ* person who has not received the support from friends and family or is discriminated against to take part in leisure activities. There seem to be all these barriers enabling them to get better. Mental illness can be very prevalent in the LGBTTQ* community due to these factors; they are the victims, from a young age, of hate crimes, harassment, and physical and sexual assault (RHO. 2011). They try to hide their sexuality which leads to this inner turmoil and having unsatisfying romantic relationships again can all contribute to the cause of their mental illness (Kidd et al., 2011). The excess stress they experience can cause cortisol production in the body which can increase depression, suicidal thoughts and anxiety (RHO, 2011). Everything that they have been through can lead them to this mental illness and once there they are faced with even more challenges on how to cope, get better and just be themselves for once or again.
To my surprise all three forms of government, liberal, NDP, and the PC have put out documents to improve mental health care (Wilton, 2004). The fact that these were put over 10 years ago and still there is this stigma, to me, shows nothing came from them which is not a surprise. Thankfully there are other efforts out there to support specifically LGBTTQ* people with a mental illness. After many suicides of LGBTTQ* youth took place author Dan Savage started the “It gets better” campaign which is for LGBTTQ* youth to watch and make videos of inspirational thoughts of how after high school life will get better (RHO, 2011). This can give the youth hope and maybe prevent a mental illness from occurring. There is also a support line (1 800 268 9688) for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people under the age of 26 to call if they are in need of someone to talk to (RHO, 2011). Parents, friends of lesbians and gays (PFLAG) is a great organization to help the people around an LGBTTQ* person with a mental illness learn how to help, offer support, and protect them from stress (RHO, 2011). Bottom line nobody should be judged due to race, age, culture, religion, gender identity, sexuality, or mental illness. Do not give people a stigma or double stigma for that matter; nobody should be ashamed of something that is out of their control.
Peace and Love
Brittany
References:
Kidd, S. A., Veltman, A., Gately, C., Chan, K. J., & Cohen, J. N. (2001). Lesbian, Gay, and Transgender Persons with Severe Mental Illness: Negotiating Wellness in the Context of Multiple Sources of Stigma. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 14(1), 13-39. doi: 10.1080/15487768.2011.546277
Rainbow Health Ontario Fact Sheet. (June, 2011). RHO Fact Sheet: LGBT Mental Health. Retrieved from http://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/admin/contentEngine/contentDocuments/LGBT_Mental_Health.pdf
The Science of Mental Illness. (2005). Information about mental illness and the brain. Retrieved from http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih5/mental/guide/info-mental-a.htm
Wilton, R. (2004) Putting policy into practice? Poverty and people with serious mental illness. Social Science and Medicine, 58(1), 25-39
From reading all of the posts from all of the groups, it is funny to see how many policies there is out there that nobody knows about. I think that it's great that the governments all believe in policies to help mental health, but unless people know about them how can they be used?
ReplyDeleteOn the topic of your blog I agree that it would be a double stigma on them, and I can only imagine how much depression and other mental health issues people from this group can experience, due to the fact that coming out for some means no longer being accepted by their support system.
I think people need to be educated on mental illnesses in order to correct the misconception that they are dangerous or crazy, since not all forms of mental illness mean you're a sociopath. It would not be easy having a mental illness and society does not make it any easier by placing unhelpful stigmas on them.
Great post
Leah
Thanks and I agree if nobody knows about it it is not going to help. There definately needs to be more awareness of the issues and supports.
ReplyDeleteBrittany
Good post Brittany! I think the government just wanted it to seem like they cared about mental health care to the public. Once the public saw that and forgot about it, they probably did nothing to improve the documents since.
ReplyDeleteSupport is a big, big factor in mental illness. Many people keep their illness to themselves (possibly like minor illnesses such as depression) when they should be telling others to recieve the help they need. Many hide it because of the worries of things like losing their jobs or homes. Its a sad thought but all we can do is wait for someone to come to us and then help them in every way we can.
-Nicole (Nikki) S.
These individuals must feel like they don't fit in any place of society, which is a sad reality. They need support, and the fact that you gave a number these individuals can call is great! I agree with Nicole, the government most likely just made it seem like it was an issue they were trying to make better, but in reality they were just briefly drawing attention to it. That's it. Hopefully policies can be made to help these individuals out in the form of support and awareness.
ReplyDeleteJenn S
I completely agree with Leah- these policies are made to help change and better the lives of those with mental illness- but unless there is public awareness how can this change come? But I can not imagine the helplessness that some of those individuals feel And you are right, no one should be judged on something that they can not change- like race or sexual orientation. I have a friend that is going through this, which I mentioned in one my blogs- and I am so happy that their are services out there for LBGTTQ persons specifically to help them cope with some of the rash judgements people have.
ReplyDelete-Morgan
I was diagnosed with depression and recently I'm being treated for a slight OCD, and on top of that I'm female. I couldn't imaging the difficulties the LDGTTQ community has trying to find help. I'm happy to hear that there is help out there, but I'm sure its still difficult to ask for help.
ReplyDelete~Joelle
The way society interprets mental illness is very important to the way that individuals with a mental illness see themselves. Although depression is very common for humans to feel at times people don't really see it as being a mental illness. Just showing how little society knows about what a mental illness is. Good blog pot Brittany.
ReplyDelete-Chandra B
for several years now along with being an Alcoholic with 7 years of being sober I have episodes of depression and anxiety which I am able to control for the most part with meds. eating right and having enough sleep. The blackness and not being able to move is over whellming and difficult enough to deal with. It is interesting to watch my 6 yr old son at school and there are a few children including my son who is different and all of the children at his school are very accepting of these differences and in fact most of the children are like mother hens with these children. It seems that the issues start when the parents get involved. I think that as we become adults we sometimes become more intalerent.
ReplyDeleteLisa
This was very intersting, great blog, mental health issues can take a toll on everyone, I found what you said to be very inspiring and its great that they have a place for youth to go to and inspire others.
ReplyDeleteShannon