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Personal Stigma Stories |
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Personal experiences of stigma, as a result of mental health problems, are at the heart of our campaign. That people experience stigma and discrimination is the reason for the national campaign, however we put personal stories to good use by using them to illustrate the extent of the problem throughout Scotland and the impact that stigma has for all of us.
The public is largely unaware of how much prejudice people with mental health problems face. ‘see me’ use personal stories to highlight the many ways
in which stigma and discrimination is experienced. Stories are used in a variety of ways - we publicise them on our website, use quotes in our leaflets
and use anonymous examples in all our presentations and awareness-raising sessions. We also try to encourage the media to report responsibly on the
issue of stigma by talking with one of our media volunteers. These are people (currently about 40 individuals) across Scotland who help the campaign by
giving interviews to journalists about their experiences of stigma.
If you have a personal experience of stigma or discrimination because of mental health problems, we’d like to hear from you. It is easy to tell us your stigma
story by email or you can write in to the ‘see me’ office at 9-13 Maritime Street, Edinburgh EH6 6SB.
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To read the full story, click the quotes below: |
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General Stories "The reaction of social services was really rude and hurtful. Even my GP (whom I have since changed) said he considered me a risk to children!" babs, aged 45
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"I have had a bad experience with social services." Matt, aged 26
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"I never mentioned the schizophrenia or having mental health issues in the past, as I had been removed from medication and never had any behavioural issues like before. " Peter, aged 45
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"I have bypassed telling some of the people around me about my mental health problem." Lucy
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Children and Young People Stories "I have just recently been dismissed from my job because of the scars on my arm." Aleusha, aged 16
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"When I was diagnosed with depression everyone at school thought it was an attention thing." Jen, aged 19
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"I've self harmed for over a year now and I'm beginning to have dreams of harming myself. It scares me more than anything, that something I had control of, is now out of control." Lisa, aged 14
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"Until recently I self harmed after a difficult time in my life. I haven't felt able to tell my parents or others around me that I did it or that I have been diagnosed with depression for fear of what they think of me." Katie, aged 21
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Employment and The Workplace Stories "Therefore, even though it doesn't feel like it a lot of the time, my mental health problems are also a 'gift' that I can use." Jacqui, aged 51
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"My sick line expires in two weeks, and I'm dreading going back to these ignorant, narrow minded individuals." Tal, aged 28
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"I have hidden the truth from employers. The workplace culture is such that admitting to having been unable to cope tars you with the label of being "weak" and somehow likely to break down again." Mary, aged 40
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"It's not easy to say we can empathise with people unless we have actually been through the mill ourselves, so for me there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I can only hope that for anyone whom I help in the future, they will see a light as well." Catriona, aged 33
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