Stigma refers to the negative attitudes and perceptions as well as ignorance (PREJUDICE) that surrounds mental illnesses. Through the ages, mental illness has been depicted in many unflattering ways.
Dr. Nancy Andreasen in her book THE BROKEN BRAIN describes it well. She says 'mental illness has been cast as punishment from God to sinners, spiritual torment due to possession by the devil - In the Bible, Saul was possessed by evil spirits that only music could soothe. A moral defeat due to weakness of will.'
In earlier centuries the mentally ill were burned at the stake or pressed to death because they were thought to be possessed.
Only 100 years ago in NY people amused themselves by going to observe the inhabitants of Bedlam (a mental institution from which the common meaning evolved) as if the mentally ill were like animals in a zoo.
This chair represents what the mentally ill were subjected to over time.
The original chair was designed by Erasmus Darwin the grandfather of Charles Darwin. Benjamin Rush, an advocate for "treatment" of the mentally ill and insane added the spinning feature. Patients were tranquilized by being spun in the chair until blood came out of their ears.
'We no longer confine the mentally ill - with chains-- in cages -as the inmates of Bedlam were at the turn of the century, but they may suffer from subtler versions of social stigmatization, cruelty and prejudice.'
With education, we believe perceptions can change.
Content compliled by Ruth Parsons from the following web sites:
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Design and implementation by students, faculty and staff of The Art Institute of Atlanta as a part of the annual (2004) WebRaising event. |  |
