Exploring the Effect of Stigma on the Family of Someone with a Mental Health Illness and How it Impacts on Relationships Introduction

Mental illness is one of the burdens for some families in the society (Arditti, 2015, p.33). The well-being of people with mental illness (PWMI) and their family members can be improved when the symptoms are identified and managed appropriately and promptly. The management of factors that elevate the effects of the condition can also be used to enhance the well-being of patients and their family. However, stigma makes it difficult to manage mental illness due to its adverse impacts on patients and their families. Corrigan (2016, p. 209) argues that stigma increases the challenge of caring for mentally ill patients. The purpose of this project is to explore the effects of stigma on the family of PWMI. The study also explores how stigma affects relationships. The study will provide insights that are useful in formulating anti-stigma campaigns and improve the management of mental illnesses and the quality of life of patients and their relatives.

This study is primarily a literature review of the effects of stigma on mentally ill patients’ family members and its impacts on relationships. It is composed of the contextual material section, the actual review of previous studies, comparing and contrasting for the studies, and the conclusion. The contextual material section presents statistical data, major theoretical perspectives, legislation and policies underpinning mental illness, and issues oppression associated with stigma affecting families of the mental ill. The literature review section, which is the largest, contains summaries of the research articles of five previous studies and the themes they present. The study uses five peer-reviewed journal articles which were sourced using Kingston University’s iCat. Databases like Ovid, SCOPUS, Google scholar were used by the author using keywords like stigma, caregiver, family discrimination, isolation, mental illness. Since there is no much research on stigma experienced by family members published after 2009, the studies inclusion criteria involved mainly American peer-reviewed articles. The discussion section compares and contrasts methodologies and findings of the five studies. It also provides a summary of the key themes evident in them. The conclusion summarizes findings of the literature review and points out the gaps in previous studies. It also provides suggestions for future research.

This dissertation is motivated by the writer’s placement experience in a mental health housing project. During the placement period, the writer supported a service user with a dual diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BDP) and substance abuse. Golightley and Goemans (2017, p. 285) describe a dual diagnosis as a spectrum of disorders includes a mental disorder. It is normally used to refer to a mental illness and problematic substance abuse and addiction. During the placement session, the service user disclosed that she experienced stigma and discrimination due to her mental illness. She expressed concerns that her immediate family members and children were ashamed of her and stigmatized in public. The service user also mentioned that mental health professionals labelled and stigmatized her because of the mental illness she had. Reflecting on this experience, the writer was compelled to explore how stigma affected the lives of the members of PWMI.

Contextual Material

Section 1 (2) of the Mental health Act 1983 describes mental illness as any condition that causes abnormal functioning or disability of the mind. This definition includes even depression and psychological distress as mental health problems. Therefore, mental illness affects a large number of the UK populations since the majority of people have experienced depression or psychological distress. One in every four people experiences a mental illness each year (Time to Change, 2015). Mental Health Act 1983 is a piece of legislation in the UK that provides the definitions of mental disorders and the rights of people regarding the assessment and treatment of mental illness in the hospital and community settings.

McNally (2011) argues that the distinction between mental illness and mental distress will never be clear. The definition of mental illness will always change based on shifts in cultural, political, and economic values. McNally (2011, p. 212) generally defines mental illness as the dysfunction of psychological and biological processes that produce suffering and functional impairment in everyday life. Mental illness compromises the thoughts, perceptions, emotions, or judgments of an individual (p.52). Mental illnesses affect the functionality of patients to the extent of needing the assistance of other as their independence is compromised significantly.

The attitude of people towards mental health problems has improved over the years, thereby, making it easier to manage their symptoms. Despite the improvemen