Stigma of seeking mental health care
University of Phoenix instructors weigh in with their perspectives
Mental illness affects one in four American families nationwide, making it one of the most common medical conditions, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). Despite its prevalence, however, there remains a strong social stigma against seeking mental health care. We asked several University of Phoenix instructors for their take on this stigma.
“Much mental illness goes untreated because people are either unwilling to seek help out of embarrassment, or often they do not have adequate access to health care services,” says Erich Widemark, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, nurse practitioner and director of nursing/campus college chair at the University of Phoenix Main Campus. “The cost of this is immeasurable, manifested by loss of work days, lost productivity, and in some cases, loss of life.”
Michelle Bailey, EdD, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor as well as area chair for social sciences at the North Florida Campus. “The stigma of mental illness is both a great topic and a sad topic,” says Bailey. “Having been in the field for over 13 years, I have seen how negative the stigma is firsthand. Although we are starting to see some improvements in these social attitudes, thanks in part to some television shows and media coverage on mental illness, we’ve got a long way to go.”
The community plays a role
The stigma against mental illness is something that pervades all of American society, and is even found among those who are entering the counseling profession, according to Bailey. “I think the worst element of the stigma that I still see every day is the labeling of mentally ill people as ‘crazy,’” she says. “This really is the worst of the worst, and yet I see this word being thrown around even among my own counseling students. It is important for us clinicians to go out into the community and educate everyone about mental illness, and that also includes educating ourselves.”
“I believe geography matters when it comes to individuals seeking therapy,” says Michelle Crawford, MA, MFT, mental health clinical coordinator for the University’s College of Social Sciences at the Southern California Campus. “Many people in Southern California appear to be quite willing to seek out counseling services. I think other major metropolitan areas might be the same.”
Different factors contribute to stigma
“There are definitely geographical and cultural differences in terms of mental health stigma, as well as gender differences,” says Paul Fornell, MS, LPCC, and an instructor in the Master of Science in Counseling program. “I’ve worked in several different parts of the country and seen it myself. The stigma is not as bad as it was 30 years ago, but it is still bad.”
For those who may be struggling with a mental illness and are concerned about their privacy, the NAMI and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) websites are great resources, according to Fornell. “Getting help doesn’t mean you’re weak,” Fornell says. “That’s something I always emphasize to my clients.”
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