TheIntellectualMagazine - Issue 7

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LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE & LEARN THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA offers students the best of it all: academic excellence, abundant internships, big-city living and beautiful weather. With more than 200 areas of study, UT is committed to preparing students for success through experiential learning. Ranked as one of the top universities in the south by U.S. News & World Report, UT produces outstanding graduates who are ready to compete in the global marketplace. the-intellectual-magazine.com 4 www.ut.edu 10 www.the-intellectual-magazine.com The Intellectual Magazine (<strong>Issue</strong> 7).indd 4 6/15/2017 10:30:24 PM
The Stigma Associated with Mental Illness Presently there are attitudes from people within society that view the various symptoms of mental illness as overwhelming and uncomfortable. People feel uncomfortable in admitting that they are suffering with symptoms of mental illness, as they are unsure of how others around them will react and in turn, treat them. Many people are hesitant to share about their experiences or to visit a mental health professional due to the stigma associated with being diagnosed with a mental health condition. For many, they go untreated throughout their lives and live with these symptoms that can be addressed through therapeutic interventions, practices and in some cases medication. The attitudes and beliefs about mental illness from society frequently nurture stigmas and discrimination towards people with mental health problems. These negative reactions towards people are common when others are brave enough to acknowledge that they have a mental health issue. The more that we talk about our symptoms and share about our experiences, the less taboo that they become and others feel comfortable in sharing knowing that many people are experiencing or have experienced symptoms similar to them. For some sharing about their stories or their mental health can lead to various forms of discrimination and being left out by their social circles, the places in which they work and from others in society. This is unfortunate as people should be embraced and shown care by those that they trust and be guided towards people or professionals who will be able to assist them. There is a lack of knowledge as to where people can go for help and a lack of affordable resources that people can make use of. For many it is difficult to seek help as they may not know where to get the help or may not have the financial means to do so. Mental illness is seen by some as a weakness when in reality there are many factors that play a role in this. There are genetic and environmental factors that can contribute to a person’s mental state. Many of the mental health conditions can be traced back through families when a genogram is completed. A genogram is a way in which therapists can gain information about a client’s family and background through discussion and drawing of a chart similar to a family tree. This allows for therapists to see patterns within the family and to see connections through different generations and how the environment the person grows up in and their experiences play a role in the persons overall wellbeing. If we were to compare mental illness to physical illness we would see that there are many similarities. Many times people are not ashamed of physical illnesses and diseases that they are diagnosed with however, when it comes to mental health they are more secretive and in denial. Mental health can be as equally debilitating as physical health as it can be more difficult to identify and can lead to a physical breakdown of the body from stress or the inability to care for oneself and perform basic ADLs (activities of daily living) such as showering, eating and grooming oneself. When someone is physically ill, many times people offer help and recommend for the person to rest and get better however when it comes to mental health people think that it will go away on it’s own or that people can change their perspective and way of looking at the problem and everything will magically get fixed. It is important that we address these stigmas within society and foster new ways of thinking so that over time we can have a society that understands mental health and sees the importance of self-care and the wellbeing of the overall person both mentally and physically. To people who are experiencing mental health conditions and issues, you are not alone. There are resources available to help you, guide you and support you. Until we view mental health differently and more like physical health, these stigmas will continue to exist within society. Stephanie Sabga MS, MHC, MFT, NCC Mental Health Counselor, Marriage and Family Therapist and Nationally Certified Counselor. Stephanie Sabga is a Mental Health Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist based in Woodbrook, Trinidad and Tobago where she has a private practice. She attended the University of Tampa where she obtained a Bachelors Degree in Sociology with a minor in Criminology and then went on to complete her Dual Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling and Marital, Couple and Family Therapy at Barry University. After completion of her studies and while working in the USA at an Addiction and Co-occuring Disorders Treatment Center, she became certified in the US as a Nationally Certified Counselor and remains a member of the American Counseling Association and of Chi Sigma Iota (the National Honors Society for Counseling). She practices CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) techniques with her clients. www.the-intellectual-magazine.com 5 The Intellectual Magazine (<strong>Issue</strong> 7).indd 5 6/15/2017 10:30:33 PM
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