As previously mentioned in the section of processes underlying mental illness stigma, there are structures in our society, such as legislations and policies that provide unequal opportunities. One of the most crucial structures that needs to be addressed, is placing insurance coverage of mental disorders on the same level as coverage for physical illnesses. A very concrete example of stigma is that physical illnesses receive one level of compensation, whereas mental illnesses receive a different, lower level. The result is that even when people affected by mental illness seek treatment, which is a major step in itself, they will typically not be able to afford good treatment. This is likely to follow by worsening of symptoms, difficulties in sustaining a job, housing, relationships and create feelings of hopelessness, which easily will start a vicious cycle. The financial consequences providing good insurance coverage for mental illness will be cost effective in the long run, as several studies have estimated.
Additional laws and policies, regarding voting, marriage and child custody need to be examined and challenged. Clearly, denial of rights may be appropriate under certain circumstances, but too often these rights are denied based on the individual’s history of mental illness, stereotypically believed to create a permanent condition. It’s important to ask questions such as: would Abraham Lincoln ever have been able to vote, much less become president under such laws, given his history of mood disorders? Or Winston Churchill who suffered from mood swings as well as had a propensity for alcohol use ever has been elected prime minister of England?
When addressing stigma it has been shown that targeting specific groups and categories has been effective. Two important life goals for people with mental illness is living independently and obtaining a job. Unfortunately these are also two areas where people with mental illness face discrimination and big challenges. Although legislations against discrimination of individuals with mental illness regarding employment and housing already exist, direct discrimination of mental illness is hard to prove but is something that still occurs. Therefore, means beyond legislation alone are required, to convince employers and landlords. These means include improvement in current policies, positive personal experience and primarily change in prejudicial attitudes.
There are also two other issues important to address to combat stigma. One of them is criminalization, where mental illness has become increasingly intertwined with the criminal justice system. This reinstitutionalization of individuals with mental illness into prisons and jails provide few solutions, other than “out of sight, out of mind” phenomenon. Instead it often worsens the symptoms, creates a double stigma, of both mental illness and of incarceration as well as promotes the view of mental illness being linked to violence. Several reforms in this area need to be made. The second important issue to address is funding for research on mental health that is equal to physical health. Even though some improvements of funding have been made, the rates still lag behind funding for physical health.
See references: Leff,
J., & Warner, R. (2006), Corrigan,
P.W., Kerr, A., & Knudsen, L. (2005), Corrigan, P.W. (Ed.). (2005), Hinshaw,
S.P. (2007), Rüsch,
N., Angermeyer. M.C., & Corrigan, P., W. (2005).