Lancet Commission issues call to urgently address stigma in mental health
The Hindu
It finds that social contact between people with and without lived experience of mental illness is the most effective way to reduce stigma and discrimination
On Monday, observed as World Mental Health Day, The Lancet released a new report calling for radical action to end stigma and discrimination in mental health, indicating that 90% of people living with mental health conditions feel negatively impacted by stigma and discrimination.
Further, 80% said stigma and discrimination can be worse than the condition itself. Additionally, 90% of those surveyed felt that media could play a major role in reducing stigma.
The report was the result of the labours of the new Lancet Commission on Ending Stigma and Discrimination in Mental Health, a grouping of over 50 contributors from across the world, including people with lived experience of a mental health condition.
The commission reviewed the evidence on effective interventions to reduce stigma and called for immediate action from governments, international organisations, employers, healthcare provider and media organisations, along with active contributions from people with lived experience, to work together to eliminate mental health stigma and discrimination.
As per the commission, stigma can “cause social exclusion and disempowerment of people with mental health conditions leading to discrimination and human rights violations, including problems in accessing healthcare, challenges in securing employment, and increased likelihood of health complications leading to early death”.
Thara Rangaswamy, The Lancet commissioner and co-founder, Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF), Chennai, presenting the Indian context, explained that though there is a gradual reduction of stigma in the country, it continues to be a real and present problem.
She said women with a diagnosis of severe mental disorder and their family members do face more stigma which has ramifications for marriage and employment preventing social inclusion. She also made a mention of the Indian visual media that still perpetuate mental illnesses negatively, exacerbating the impact of stigma.