Feeling of Contempt and Rejection

The Consequence of Stigmatizing Psychiatric Disorder Patients

Stigmatizations or labeling patients inflicted with psychological disorders is a perplexing phenomenon which must be investigated from numerous standpoints.

According to WebDa, the stigmatization phenomenon is interconnected with the complex interactions in social sciences, politics, history, culture and the existing subcultures in the society, anthropology, psychology, medical sciences and psychiatry. Stigmatization is so significant and differentiating that those who are stigmatized are defined with and known for those negative features and aspects with which they are labeled.

Hence, the individual would feel low in self value, his identity would be tarnished and distorted, and their characters are offended by the members of society.

The Seminar of the Role of Psychologists in Comprehensive Health Service Centers held in Avicenna Hall served for the purpose of decreasing the stigma caused by psychiatric diseases and disorders. Considering stigmatization as social injustice, Dr. Fayazi, a faculty member in Psychiatry Department of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences asserted: stigma is a label attributed to a group out of the main loop of the society, which leads to negative outlook about the individuals out of the so called loop. Rejection, contempt and segregation are the consequences of stigmatizing these individuals.

“Unfortunately, psychiatric problems are among the cases that accompany stigmatization on the part of the society”, said Dr. Fayazi, “Though 22% of the population in the society are currently entangling some sort of psychiatric disorders”.

He pointed out: as far as the load of the diseases, women suffering from them are the first rank and men as the third.

As he put it, delaying the treatment, decline in self-confidence, becoming aloof and isolated from the society, deprivation from opportunities, social segregations and the influence in hygienic policies are the consequences of stigmatizing these individuals.

In this seminar, Dr. BaniAssadi, specialist in psychiatry, further elaborated on the issue of removing the stigma of mental illnesses.

It must be mentioned that concomitant to the week of Mental Health (October 15^th -21^st) with the slogan of “Psychiatric First Aid and Mental Health for All”^, the Seminar of the Role of Psychologists in Comprehensive Health Service Centers was held featuring the authorities and officials in mental health unit of all affiliated cities and the psychiatrics active in Comprehensive Health Service Centers affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.

In this ceremony featuring the Deputy of Health and Hygiene Administration of the university, the top activists in the scope of social and mental health and addiction were awarded and admired.