Tag Archives: stigma

Combating the “Stigma” of Divorce and Separation

I was brought up to believe that it is not WHAT happens to us in life that determines our happiness, but the attitude we choose to adopt around those circumstances. When it comes to divorce, separation and single parent families, we are faced with some stigma around what it all means. As parents, we can protect our children somewhat from this stigma and help them understand that divorce and single parent families do not have to be a tragedy or even signify failure. I know that we cannot protect our kids from everything and everyone out there in the world, … Continue reading →

What is Schizophrenia?

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The public misconception of a schizophrenia sufferer as having a “split personality” has been pushed by Hollywood and novelists alike. Sufferers of this serious mental illness do not possess dual personalities, but the unfortunate stigma that is attached to schizophrenia and mental illness in general often precludes the general public having a thorough understanding of what this complex condition is all about. Schizophrenia affects roughly one in every hundred people, so it is hardly a rare illness. This proportion is consistent around the world, occurring in similar ratios in all races and socio-economic groups. It is no respecter of status … Continue reading →

Taking the Stigma out of Mental Illness

All of us are mentally ill. You might find the above statement difficult to believe, but it’s true. We may not all fit into a textbook category for a particular illness, but whether we are aware of it or not, we all have our individual quirks— that’s what makes us human. And the best way to remove the stigma that is associated with mental illness is to see that we all have more in common with each other than we may like to imagine. And that includes the area of mental illness. Like physical illness, mental illness is very common. … Continue reading →