Why Does Stigma Exist?

The aftermath of the Germanwings Flight 9525 has left most of the world in shock and devastation. With emotions still raw, many of us can't help but wonder what could lead one person to deliberately bring another 149 people to their deaths.

While many theories have been thrown around as to what led Andreas Lubitz, a 27-year old German citizen to commit this atrocity, one in particular has been raised repeatedly. While the credibility of this theory is so far unknown, authorities have reported that Lubitz had been suffering from depression previously, and had been deemed unfit for work that day. Further sources suggest that Lubitz had been concealing some elements of his illness from employers (http://www.smh.com.au/world/germanwings-copilot-andreas-lubitz-admitted-depression-20150331-1mce9i.html).

Our hearts and sorrows are with all of the families of those killed in the horrific plane crash, and while we do not condone the actions of Andreas Lubitz, the question begs asking - if that was the case, what would have happened if Andreas had been upfront with his employer and not gone to work that day?

Before we address this issue, one common myth about people suffering from mental illness needs debunking. Having a mental illness does not make you dangerous. A recent mental health survey showed that around 50% of Australians believe those suffering with mental illness are more likely to be violent than the rest of the population. The media takes an active role in feeding this notion, particularly in stories such as this one, where the link between mental illness and violence is portrayed as much stronger than it is. In reality, those receiving treatment for a mental illness are no more violent or dangerous than anyone else. The lifetime risk of a person with schizophrenia seriously harming another is less than 0.005%.

So what might have prevented Andreas from telling his employer that he was unfit for work that day? In 2006, an Australian study found that 1 in 4 people felt that depression was a sign of personal weakness, and therefore wouldn't employ a person with depression. Many people with mental illness have experienced discrimination when applying for jobs, or returning to work after an episode of ill mental health. Only 12% of people felt comfortable telling their colleagues, while the rest were afraid of bullying, ridicule and demotion. It is no surprise that Lubitz would therefore have felt uneasy about telling his employer about any ill mental health for fear of losing his job or being treated differently by his co-workers.

So it's time to debunk myth number two. Mental illness has nothing to do with weakness. Rather, it is caused by a complex interplay of genetic, biological, social and environmental factors, just as any other physical condition would be. If someone had told you they were suffering from asthma, would you consider that to be a character flaw? In fact, accepting mental illness and seeking treatment for it is actually antonymous to weakness - rather a sign of great strength.

People frequently underestimate the prevalence of mental health problems in our society, often brushing the issue under the rug. However, mental illness is extremely common in Australia. If 45% of Australians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, don't you think it's time to end the discrimination? Perhaps the reason we are so quick to play down the impact of mental illness in our community is that many cases don't become known to us. Only 35% of sufferers actually seek treatment - with the primary reason being fear of stigmatisation by their peers.

While the motives behind Lubitz's actions are unclear, there is one thing which really stands out and might help us to move forward from this horrible tragedy. Mental health stigma needs to be nipped in the bud, so that people can be open and honest with their peers, seek the treatment that they need, and ensure the best possible health outcomes for all members of our society.

References

Angermeyer MC, Dietrich S. Public beliefs about and attitudes towards people with mental illness: a review of population studies. Acta Psychiatr Scand, 2006 Sep;113:163-179.

Fact sheet: What is stigma? [Internet]. Perth: Government of Western Australia Mental Health Commission; 2010 [cited 2015 Mar 29]. Available from http://www.mentalhealth.wa.gov.au/mental_illness_and_health/mh_stigma.aspx

Parle S. How does stigma affect people with mental illness? Nursing Times. 2012 Jul;108(28):12-14.

Reavley NJ, Jorm AF. National Survey of Mental Health Literacy and Stigma. Melbourne (VIC): University of Melbourne (AUS); 2011 Dec.