“Mental illness is like any other medical illness”: a critical examination of the statement and its impact on patient care and society

Identification with arts‐based groups improves mental wellbeing in adults with chronic mental health conditions

“…Even though chronic mental health conditions (CMHC)-such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, recurring depression and substance use disorders-tend to be viewed by medical practitioners as biogenetic conditions (Malla, Joober & Garcia, 2015), members of the lay public place more emphasis on psychosocial and familial causal factors (Angermeyer & Dietrich, 2006). It is clear the latter view has value as it has been found that psychosocial factors are clearly implicated in the development, maintenance and recovery from CMHC (Dixon et al, 2010;Haslam, Jetten, Cruwys, Dingle, & Haslam, 2018).…”

The Opinions of Italian Psychology Students About People Diagnosed with Depression and Schizophrenia: A Comparative Study

“…Presenting mental illness as being "like any other medical illness" (9,10), or the adoption of a causal model focusing on biogenetic factors has not reduced stigma (10,11). People with mental disorders continue to be perceived as dangerous and unpredictable and to be discriminated against by the public, in some circumstances even more so than in the past (12,13).…”

“…Moreover, explanations of one's own mental illness as being due to biochemical imbalance of the brain may lead people with these disorders to greater acceptance of drug 4 treatments (23), greater scepticism about the effectiveness of psychological therapies, and prognostic pessimism overall (9).…”

Näkökulma laajenee, mielenterveysstigma vähenee

“…Erityisesti mielenterveysongelmiin on perinteisesti liittynyt stigmailmiötä ruokkivia ennakkoluuloja ja asenteita, joita on pyritty eri strategioin lievittämään. Eräs tapa on ollut mie lenterveysongelmien rinnastaminen lääketieteel listen sairauksien kanssa käyttämällä "sairaus, siinä missä mikä tahansa muukin sairaus"ana logiaa (2,3). Tämän on ajateltu vähentävän ih misten syyllistämistä, tehden samalla psykiatrisen hoidon vastaanottamisesta sosiaalisesti hyväksyt tävämpää (2).…”