Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
In the Observer last Sunday, Elizabeth Day wrote an article questioning whether there was still a stigma surrounding mental illness. Her reasoning was that because there has been an outpouring of stories about depression in the wake of Robin Williams’ death, we’re all fully tuned in to the nuances of mental health problems now. Day argues that if there’s anything resembling a stigma left, it’s because we keep using the word stigma, not because there’s an actual stigma. Besides, what does stigma mean, anyway?
According to the Mental Health Foundation, depression affects about 1 in 12 people in the population, and about 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives. Since Williams’ death, talk of depression and suicide has been near constant in the media. In short, depression is everywhere. Does that mean that it’s easier for someone with depression to talk about it?
http://www.theguardian.com/science/head-quarters/2014/aug/28/mental-health-stigma-depression
According to the Mental Health Foundation, depression affects about 1 in 12 people in the population, and about 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives. Since Williams’ death, talk of depression and suicide has been near constant in the media. In short, depression is everywhere. Does that mean that it’s easier for someone with depression to talk about it?
http://www.theguardian.com/science/head-quarters/2014/aug/28/mental-health-stigma-depression