A progressive self-stigma model claims that mental health issues result in four phases that lead to reduced self-esteem and hope: awareness of associated stereotypes, acknowledging them, stereotyping, and self-confidence. There is no aid for many people who are mentally ill. Individuals often eschew treatment or defer because they worry about different treatments or fear that their employment and livelihood will be lost. This scenario follows the fact that there are still many problems with stigma and negative stereotypes against people with mental illness. Brain disorders stereotypes, exclusion may or may not be obvious, but can cause harm irrespective of their magnitude. Mentally ill people constitute a comparatively small population and are treated unfairly in different ways, but it can be vital to consider what it is and how to deal with it and eradicate it (Corrigan, 2007). Consequently, the enlightened physiatrist adds that both types of stigma exacerbate the adversities associated with mental health conditions.
Diagnostic dementia and mild impaired cognitive stigma can affect interpersonal connections, interactions with the healthcare community, service-usage attitudes, and involvement in clinical research in a significant adverse way. Interestingly, Corrigan (2007) adds that diagnostic labels are also used to indicate stigma and stereotyping, despite their clear advantages. The effect of stereotyping also stretches to the families who care for people with such labels. Thus, the entrusted mental health specialists and other key stakeholders need to collaborate to identify the underlying factors associated with prejudice against mentally challenged individuals, among other undesirable social injustices. Notably, the proposed diagnosis and treatment assume that all group members have shared traits and have definable boundaries (Corrigan, 2007). Additionally, one method of supporting this same progressive model is to determine if the early stages of awareness are unique to the independent measurements of stigma, which focus only on the individual’s perception.
Most people suffering from mental issues are unaware and fear opening up to those within their social circles. Specifically, Delle’s experience follows the model; he acknowledged the fact that society had a negative perception of people with psychological issues (TED Conferences, LLC, 2017). Such people find it difficult to visit health facilities because of the perceived prejudice against them. Although Delle asserts that he faced a difficult time in Nigeria, he could not buy his medical specialist’s advice about visiting a psychiatrist for diagnosis and treatment. However, Delle is in the final stage of recovery (self-confidence). Having interacted with his friend who also had schizophrenia and witnessed the community’s ignorance regarding mental health, Delle started the mental health special interest alumni group at his college. This community was to help African students overcome the undesirable consequences associated with mental health issues (TED Conferences, LLC, 2017). Thus, he endeavors to support the unfortunate society members with psychological problems.
Delle experienced both types of stigma; for self-stigma, the narrator displayed undermined self-awareness. He was unable to lead a productive and quality life following the psychological disturbances he was undergoing. Afterward, he understood the concept and opted to recommend the need for the suffering people to share their traumatic events and experiences with their peers and qualified mental health professionals (Pillay, 2010). On the same note, Delle highlights the ignorance of society about people with psychological issues. Like any other person with the condition, he feared to share his adversities because of the existing prejudice against the mentally challenged persons (TED Conferences, LLC, 2017). However, although Delle enlightens his audience about both types of stigma, he emphasizes the adversities associated with public stigma. Although he admits that the failure of diagnosis depends on self-stigma, a crucial determinant of successful diagnosis, the prejudice against the mentally challenged people worsens the adversities associated with self-stigma.
Importantly, Delle’s internalization about his mental health condition and help-seeking challenged his description of an African man. The Nigerian society discourages men from sharing their problems with others. Instead, they need to display enhanced emotional intelligence despite their situation (TED Conferences, LLC, 2017). Thus, he was angry at his health advisor for recommending a mental health specialist for him. Nonetheless, he argued that Africans perceived the White men as weak following their tendencies of reporting the various forms of mental illnesses, including depressions and anxiety, among others (Campbell & Mowbray, 2016). However, Delle’s interaction with his schizophrenic friend made him interested in understanding the complex mental health condition (Pillay, 2010). He developed the much-needed self-awareness that makes it possible for him to help fight against the mental health burden known to undermine the productivity of individuals residing within a society.
In conclusion, Sangu Delle’s diagnosis positively influenced society’s understanding of mental health conditions, including their distinct roles in safeguarding themselves from the allied negative impacts. Specifically, his medical journey and experiences made him value the need to educate the public about the complex issue. Confidently, I think Delle’s experience would remain the same if his culture were different because the issue is a global issue. The mentally challenged people continue being victims of social injustices despite the efforts by the entrusted stakeholders to counter the undesirable incidents.
References
Campbell, R. D., & Mowbray, O. (2016). The stigma of depression: Black American experiences. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 25(4), 253-269.
Corrigan, P. W. (2007). How clinical diagnosis might exacerbate the stigma of mental illness. Social Work, 52(1), 31-39. Web.
Pillay, S. (2010). The dangers of self-diagnosis: How self-diagnosis can lead you down the wrong path [Blog post]. Web.
TED Conferences, LLC (Producer). (2017). There’s no shame in taking care of your mental health [Video]. Web.