A New Millennium Consultant

Mental Illness Stigma (MIS) is the labeling, stereotyping, separating and discriminating, ...

The Iraq and Afghanistan wars have elevated the need for leaders to address the ending of mental illness stigma (MIS). It is imperative for returning soldiers; society and others to acknowledge psychiatric treatment with the same respect and dignity given to other physical disorder.

Stigmatization is a civil rights barrier, which either stifles or has stifled; many societal sub-cultural groups residing in today’s business organizational environments and in society as a whole. Mental Illness Stigma (MIS) is the labeling, stereotyping, separating and discriminating, which are the components of stigmatization. Stigmatization is entirely contingent upon access to social, economic and political power that allows the identification of differences, the construction of stereotypes, the separation of labeled persons into distinct categories and the full execution of disapproval, rejection, exclusion and discrimination (Corrigan, 2004; Link and Phelan, 2001).

The negative dynamics of the attached stigma associated with mental illness is so perverse that according to Corrigan (2004), it blocks the achievement of life goals, whereas individuals either refuse to obtain or remain in medical treatment programs. This denial of mental health treatment is a cause of societal concerns relating to issues of violence, substance abuse affecting the individual, community, family and organizational environment. According to the Capella (2008) reach study, “Fear of stigma-professional and personal is a major deterrent to receiving mental assist; lack of access is also significant” for the service member.

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According to Capella University (2008) Joining Forces America research study, there were over 2 million military service members returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with some returning with “serious mental and cognitive conditions”. The Capella (2008) research study further revealed that service members has a “Fear of stigma-professional and personal is a major deterrent to receiving mental assist; lack of access is also significant”.

Findings from the Joining Forces America study: “Multiple deployments. A volatile region. A controversial mission. The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have challenged our armed forces in unprecedented ways. When service-members and veterans return from battle, many struggle to return to their ‘normal’ lives.”

VA Says PTSD Affects Most Operation Iraq Freedom (OIF) - Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Vet

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that as many as 95 percent of veterans returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan have some form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms can include:

(1) Nightmares,

(2) Feeling numb,

(3) Having difficulty experiencing love or closeness with others,

(4) Feeling jittery or overly alert,

(5) Having difficulty sleeping,

(6) Experiencing anger or irritability,

(7) Having difficulty concentrating,

(8) Substance abuse problems,

(9) Having feelings of despair or hopelessness.

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