World Schizophrenia day: Solidarity, not Stigma towards schizophrenia.

 

Raju was a bright engineering student till recently when his parents noticed gradual changes in his behavior. He started suspecting that his classmates are plotting to kill him, he also started hearing the voices of his classmates threatening to kill him. He strongly believed they have inserted some microchips into his brain. He got aggressive towards his friends without any reason, stopped sleeping at night, stopped eating regularly, and was not bothered about his hygiene. After getting treated he joined his college. To his shock, he found his best friends avoiding him, his teachers passing indirect comments on his mental illness, and his seniors making fun of him and his mental illness, behind his back.

This is a classical picture of an illness called schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is regarded as “the worst disease of mankind”. Just imagine the plight of the person suffering from schizophrenia, with fear getting better of him every moment, imaginary voices swearing to kill him, imaginary people spying on him, and so on. Of all the challenges these unfortunate patients face, the most difficult one is the “stigma”, as explained in the above case. Here is an effort to explain the reasons for stigma in mental illnesses in general and schizophrenia in particular.

What is stigma?

 Stigma is a universal phenomenon, and basically originate in the stereotypical believes of a group of people that are negative, offensive and judgmental. Stigma leads to discrimination and marginalization of people suffering from mental illness.  

What are the reasons for stigma?

Reasons for stigma are various. Most of them are secondary to misconceptions about mental illnesses. Mental illnesses are perceived, even today, as a result of black magic, supernatural powers, some past misdeeds, etc. Mental illnesses are thought to be untreatable. People with mental illnesses are perceived as hostile, unpredictable, out of control, useless, foolish, etc. Media also has a role to play in creating stigma, thanks to the negative picture our movies depict of people with mental illness.

What is the way out?

Let us first understand that Schizophrenia, like all other mental illnesses, is due to a brain malfunction. It is as biological an illness like diabetes, stroke, typhoid, etc. It is not due to black magic and supernatural power. Schizophrenia is completely treatable and there are numerous examples of people leading a completely normal and successful life with proper treatment. Unlike popular belief, people with schizophrenia are not always hostile or aggressive. They still can understand good from bad, right from wrong in all other aspects except for their misbeliefs (delusions).

To conclude

Let us stop discriminating, humiliating, stigmatizing people with schizophrenia. They are our unfortunate brothers and sisters, already going through the worst suffering. Let us try to make their life better. It is time to display solidarity, not stigma.