The stigma of mental disorders: discrimination and social exclusion

Abstract

Mental disorders generate a series of malfunctions on a psychological level that avoid the person who suffers them from performing a normal daily life. The literature reviewed reveal that one of the areas most affected by the occurrence of this disease is the social. The aim of this paper is to inform the scientific community the problems of social exclusion that people with mental disorders have to suffer. According to the review carried out, people with mental illness suffer discrimination at work, in relationships, in the hospitals and in the mass media. The article shows that social exclusion creates significant problems for the psychological well-being of the person suffering rejection. Finally, it is discussed some of the possible strategies to remedy this situation.