Stress

Stress and Mental Health Stigma

Learning Intentions

By the end of the lesson you should be able to:

• explain some of the reasons why people of all ages become stressed.

• be aware of the stigma experienced by some of those suffering from a mental illness

• Know what support is available

Previously in Soc Ed…

Last lesson we looked at the different personalities each of us have and thought about what it means to be a 5th year student.

We are now going to explore some of the reasons why and the type of stress experienced by people of all ages.

Stress: Reasons and Symptoms

Task 1

In your jotter write down:a) five reasons why we become stressed/suffer poor

mental healthb) Some of the symptoms associated with poor

mental health and stress

DISCUSS

HISTORYMany people who have

experienced mental illness have also suffered from the stigma associated with it and been discriminated against.

The Bethlem Royal Psychiatric Hospital in London is recognised as the world’s first institution to specialise in mental illnesses.

The Bethlem Royal Psychiatric HospitalFounded in 1247

History

It was known for cruelty and inhumane treatment. This went on even in to the 20th centaury.

History

The word “bedlam” meaning uproar or confusion, is derived from the name of the hospital (Bethlem)

Think of Bedlam Paintball, Bedlam TV series, Bedlam Student Theatre in Edinburgh on George IV Bridge.

History

• In Scotland there was the Edinburgh Lunatic Asylum which became the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, part of which was sold and became the Craighouse Campus at Napier University.

• Other current famous hospitals are Carstairs in Lanarkshire, Broadmoor in Berkshire and The Priory organisation which is private and specialise in treating addiction.

Mental Health Stigma: Higher or Lower?

Task 2. Look at the following stats, decide if the fact is higher or lower than the previous one

Around one in four people (28%) will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives.

a) The percentage of the population who know someone close to them who has experience of mental ill-health

• Higher – 61%b) The percentage of the public who think that ‘people with mental

health problems are often dangerous’ • Lower – 16% (2006)

c) The percentage of people would not want anybody to know if they developed a mental health problem

• Higher – 41%d) The percentage of people who will recover from long term mental

health problems • Higher – 66%

e) Percentage of people with experience of mental ill-health who have told someone they know about their mental health problems

• Higher – 86%

Mental Health Stigma: False or True?

Task 3Look at the following facts. Decide if it is false or

true, write down your answer.a) People in rural areas are more likely to experience

mental ill-health than people in urban areas.b) Men are more likely to suffer from depression and

anxiety than womenc) People on very low incomes are more likely to

suffer from mental ill-health than those very high incomes.

d) Men are more likely to suffer from Schizophrenia than woman

e) Suicide is the 5th biggest cause of death for people aged 15-24 in Scotland

f) An eating disorder, such as anorexia, is classed as a mental health issue

False or True? Answersa) People in rural areas are more likely than people in urban

areas to experience mental ill-health. • True

b) Men are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety than women

• Falsec) People on very low incomes are more likely to suffer from

mental ill-health than those very high incomes.• False – They are both equally as likely to suffer from a mental

health issue. More so than those on middle incomesd) Men are more likely to suffer from Schizophrenia than

woman• True

e) Suicide is the 5th biggest cause of death for people aged 15-24 in Scotland

• False – It is the 2nd biggest cause of death after road accidents.

f) An eating disorder, such as anorexia, is classed as a mental health issue

• True

Mental Health: Case Study’sTask 4Read the following people’s experiences with

mental health. For each one, in pairs, discuss and record:

a) What difficulties has this person had to overcome? Has they experienced stigma?

b) Has that person been let down? If so in what way?

c) Who has helped them and how?d) What treatment has that person received?

Do you think this has this been successful?

Mental Health: Case Study’s

Malky, 67, Larbert

Pru, 52, Glasgow

James, 32, Glasgow

In pairs:List as many support networks as you

can think of for people suffering from mental ill-health or stress. This can be nation organisations or local ones.

Discuss

Where is the Love?

• DISCUSSION POINT (if time allows)• Research undertaken by some

support networks has shown that some employers have admitted that they would be uneasy about employing someone who had suffered from a mental illness. This means that many people will hide the fact.