Question

What words or phrases have you heard being used that are stigmatizing to people with mental illnesses? What are the ethical implications when healthcare professionals use stigmatizing speech? How can nurses help to change negative perceptions of mental illness?

Answer 1

Stigmatizing the people with mental illness is the treating of mental illness people in a negative way by mentioning their particular characteristics, behavior, disability. They make them harmful by using the worst word such as psychosis, psycho, mental, half-minded. When health care professionals associated with stigmatic speech, then the mentally ill person have rights to take actions under anti-discrimination law. They can also approach the human rights commission if the mentally ill person not treated with equal rights and opportunities. Nurses play a critical role in changing the negative perceptions of mentally ill people. Firstfall, the nurses need to understand the fact associated with mentally ill people and his family. Nurses need to talk about their personal experiences and to support them. Treat them with respect and communicate in a professional manner. Do not discriminate them in any situations and provides optimum care and guidance.