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Stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide must be urgently addressed printable version

17 Nov 2012: posted by the editor - Health, Ireland

President of the Irish Association of Suicidology, Dan Neville, has today (Saturday) said that one of the key issues people face when seeking assistance with mental and emotional ill health and suicide prevention is the extremely damaging stigma surrounding it.

Limerick Fine Gael Deputy Neville was speaking at the Seminar on Suicide in Ireland, hosted by the Viktor Frankl Institute of Ireland at the European Parliament Buildings in Dublin today.

"The stigma regarding mental health and suicide is often subtle, but extremely damaging and is deeply ingrained in Irish society. While there have been limited improvements in recent years, there is an urgent need to inform and educate society to understand issues around mental ill health and suicide.

"Recent research completed by St. Patrick's University Hospital, Dublin has shown that; 20% believe that those with mental health problems are below average intelligence; 40% consider seeking help for a mental health problem to be a sign of personal failure; 66% expressed reluctance to hire a person with a history of mental illness believing them to be unreliable; and, 30% say they would not be willing to accept someone with a mental health problem as a close friend.

"In a recent survey by Amnesty International, 94% of those who had experienced mental ill health said they had experienced some unfair treatment and 70% concealed mental health problems.

"Stigma is extremely hurtful, causes prejudice, excludes and marginalises people, and, above all, it stops people giving help and being supportive. It also stops families and those suffering from seeking help and support and limits the lobbying for the much needed services that have been badly neglected over the decades.

"Authorities and NGOs face a real challenge in raising awareness about all of the facts surrounding mental ill health and suicide. A deeper understanding of the real issues surrounding it will reduce the stigma and increase awareness of those seeking help. Investment must be made to improve all areas of services the estimated one-in-four people who at some stage of their life will suffer from a mental health illness."

Tags: mental illness, suicide

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