Stigma and discrimination around mental health and substance use problems: everyone has the right to live without discrimination depending on a mental health or substance use problem.
Plenty of people don’t ask for and identical important parts of life, others have trouble finding a place to live. Besides, discrimination itself can lead to mental health or substance use problems. Like sexual orientation, they may experience discrimination depending on many different prejudices, gender, culture or physical disability. Of course many people don’t experience stigma for just one reason. There’s some more info about it on this website. Research shows that over half of people living with mental illnesses said that they have been embarrassed about their health problems, and over half felt like they had experienced discrimination. In many cultures, the entire family carries their loved one’s stigma being that they strongly identify as a group.
Others may dismiss their concerns. Discrimination may also affect families and friends. That said, this respect and dignity is a freedom that shouldn’t be taken away by. Needless to say, it’s also a basic human right for all people with mental health and substance use problems, should have. With that said, the United Nations says that, All persons with a mental illness. Considering the above said. Human rights laws meant to protect people from discrimination are only part of the solution, when we talk about discrimination. Health is all about more than not having a disease or health problem.
Discrimination promotes poor ‘wellbeing’ as long as it denies human rights, prevents connections among community members and creates unequal access.
Health and well being include things like human rights, community connections and access to opportunities.
We’re also countering discrimination and improving people’s ‘well being’, when we support human rights and partake in our communities. In BC, they are part of the Human Rights Code. You should take action, I’d say in case you feel that someone has violated your rights under the Human Rights Code. On top of this, for the most part there’re laws to protect you from discrimination or unfair treatment on the basis of a mental illness or substance use problem.
