Bid to beat stigma of mental ill-health

Campaigners and staff of mental health services across Blackburn will highlight the stigma surrounding such problems when they take part in World Mental Health Day today.

One in every 100 people will be diagnosed with a form of schizophrenia in their lifetime. Yet sufferers still fear being rejected by society.

Dr John McCarron, a consultant clinical psychologist for adult clinical services in the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley area, believes society needs to break down its fear of the unknown. "As a society, we need to change our view towards people with mental health problems so that society may work for everyone, including people with mental health problems," he said.

"That is why stigma is such an important issue to tackle, because it can block their perception of what is possible. If you have a view that something is unrecoverable, it will affect what you do in your life."

"People with mental health problems are themselves likely to be some of the most socially excluded groups in society."

But, he admitted, a change in attitudes cannot happen overnight, which is why events such as World Mental Health Day are so important.

Dr McCarron said breaking down the stigma was vital because fear of not being accepted sometimes stopped people from getting help when they desperately needed it.

"For many people, the fear of stigma is a major factor which blocks them from getting help," he said. "They believe it stops them from returning to their normal lives, such as getting housing and employment within their local communities. At it's worst, stigma creates barriers to recovery and stops them living a full life.

"Of course, people's fear of what they don't understand is normal, but anxiety and depression are very common. And yet, people often have a fear of those types of problems

Dr McCarron said one reason which added to people's attitude was the portrayal of some patients, which suggested they were dangerous, when they were not.

Mental health problems in Blackburn and the North West were often caused by high levels of social depravation. In some cases, it meant some people had experienced trauma in their early lives from neglect to abuse which might lead to problems later in life, according to Dr McCarron.

But there are many different reasons why people develop mental health problems, from relationship break-ups and coping with the aftermath of a road traffic accident, to the more complex problems such as schizophrenia.

Although there is help available, many people are unsure of making that first step to their GP, but that is still where the majority of cases are picked up, before patients are referred to the three clinical psychologists covering the Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley area.

There will be two interactive displays on stigma and stress aimed at staff, patients and public at Queen's Park Hospital and Blackburn Infirmary today.