Psychophobia

Psychophobia is fear of, prejudice against, or discrimination against the mentally ill (or those labeled as mentally ill). It is also known as mentalism. Over history the mentally ill were sometimes accused of being possessed by demons or the devil or of being witches or warlocks or devil worshipers. In modern times it is argued that such people have a mental illness and no demons or any other explanations as mentioned above, yet the fear of the mentally ill has continued. [ [http://www.canada.com/theprovince/columnists/story.html?id=f8bee2f6-2595-488d-8e6a-b13461d52b7a How we treat the mentally ill in our fearful province is just maddening] ] [ [http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/314/7079/458 The community's response to mentally ill people] ] [ [http://www.namiscc.org/newsletters/December01/statistics.htm Mentally Ill more likely to become victims] ]

Social influences

Psychophobia is taught when parents tell their children to behave or else they'll end up in a mental hospital, [ [http://www.minti.com/parenting-advice/4150/Mental-illnessLets-help-put-a-stop-to-the-Stigma/ Mental illness...Lets help put a stop to the Stigma] ] and call some `general hurtful names' such as `mental' and `fruitcake'. Some families consider the mentally ill person's condition to be a character flaw, and that the sufferer is personally responsible for their condition. [ [http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1397108 Prejudice and discrimination suffered by mentally ill people] ] . The children learn to fear the mentally ill, lest they become one of them. Hollywood, TV shows, the media, and news programs all have negative stereotypes of the mentally ill which may contribute to psychophobia.(i.g. Kayes Hossain in Loudoun County Hospital)

The Law

In the USA the Americans with Disabilities Act protects the mentally ill because they have a mental disability, yet due to psychophobia many mentally ill people are still discriminated against. Other nations also have laws for protection, yet still have instances of discrimination.

Homeless and employment problems

Homeless people have often been found to be suffering from some form of mental illness. It has often caused them to lose or fail to obtain jobs. Employers have been accused of making false complaints against mentally ill workers, to make an excuse to fire them other than their mental illness to avoid lawsuits. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980DE0DC1330F935A35756C0A961958260 The Mentally Ill Deserve Job Protection] ] [ [http://themassdefective.blogspot.com/2006/09/scary-article.html Bipolar Disorder Takes Heavy Toll on Workplace] ] [ [http://knowledge.wpcarey.asu.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1312 Keep it to yourself] ] .

Health care against the mentally ill

[http://www.asylumonline.net Asylum Online] talks about Psychologists and the health care industry having a fear of the mentally ill and discriminating against them.

References

See also

*Psychology
*Phobia
*Discrimination
*Ableism

Web site references

* [http://talentdevelop.com/articles/Page28.html Psychophobia in Art]
* [http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305230.html Fight Psychophobia]
* [http://www.asylumonline.net/ Asylum Magazine]

* [http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=288089 Challenging ideas in mental health]
* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/dec/05/guardiansocietysupplement.mentalhealth Loose-talking psychophobes show nothing but contempt]
* [http://hymes.wordpress.com/2008/04/30/blogging-against-disablism-day-post-psychophobia-101/ Psychophobia 101]