Discrimination Definition Mental Health

Discrimination and mental health.

Discrimination definition mental health. Stigma and discrimination can also worsen someone s mental health problems and delay or impede their getting help and treatment and their recovery. Treating all people with respect and dignity means not judging labelling or discriminating against them based on any personal attribute including mental illness. According to the americans with disabilities act ada of 1990 qualified individuals are protected from employment discrimination. Discrimination is the primary reason why the state of mental health services in america is at sub par levels.

Stigma is when someone sees you in a negative way because of a particular characteristic or attribute such as mental illness. For indirect discrimination it doesn t matter whether the person or organisation knew about your disability. It explains the equality act 2010 and how it might apply to you when you are at work applying for jobs or using services. Fear has driven mental health discrimination for hundreds of years the idea that mental illness is a flaw dates back centuries.

This means they have to plan in advance and think about how their policies and practices may affect people with mental health problems. Mental health discrimination occurs in the workplace when an employee is treated unfairly because of his or her disability in this case the mental health disorder. Many individuals inaccurately believe that mental health problems are not true problems and thus the field of mental wellness does not receive the awareness funding or education that it deserves. In the 1700s people with psychological conditions were often thrown in jail or quarantined for their behavior often because people didn t know what else to do.

The law applies to all employers and service providers in england wales and scotland and so disabled people are protected from discrimination in work education or. The act protects people with a mental health condition from discrimination if they fall within the definition of having a disability. Social isolation poor housing unemployment and poverty are all linked to mental ill health.