Health Stigma

Health Related Stigma Paper

Global and Community Health: Introduction to Health

Stigma is a mark of disgrace of infamy; a stain or reproach, on someone’s reputation. (“Stigma”). Health related stigma refers to a mark or spot that represents a defect or a disease; it can be either be mentally or physical. (“Stigma”). Mental health stigma can be divided into two parts; social stigma which is the judgmental attitudes and discrimination against people with mental problems. (Davey, 2013). Then there is perceived stigma which is the internalizing by the mental health sufferer of their perceptions of discrimination; this can cause in shame and/or poorer treatment. (Davey, 2013). Throughout history HIV and Schizophrenia have become of the most stigmatized illnesses.

Schizophrenia is a discrete mental illness that was discovered in 1887. (“History of Schizophrenia”). Mental illness has been around for thousands of years, people that showed signs of mental illness were known as “abnormal”.( History of Schizophrenia). Over the years mental illnesses were split up into groups; schizophrenia symptoms were identified as “dementia praecox”. (“History of Schizophrenia”). And until this day schizophrenia types are still being identified. (“History of Schizophrenia”). People hold negative beliefs about people with mental illnesses; some employers have reported that they hire less people with mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia because they tend to be unpredictable and/or dangerous. (Davey, 2013).

With HIV people hold false beliefs also. (“Stigma & Discrimination”). People believe that the HIV virus is highly contagious so they tend to distance themselves from infected people, which leads to isolation. (“Stigma & Discrimination”). HIV was discovered in 1983, but since the symptoms take up to 10 years to show scientist were unable to find the origin. (“Stigma & Discrimination”). HIV can be split into two types HIV-1 and HIV-2; HIV-1 is responsible for...