Jun 02 2008
STIGMA - Help Stamp it out!
Stigma - definition from Merriam-Webster online Dictionary
- plural stig·ma·ta \stig-ˈmä-tə, ˈstig-mə-tə\ or stig·mas
- Etymology:Latin stigmat-, stigma mark, brand, from Greek, from stizein to tattoo —
1 aarchaic : a scar left by a hot iron : brand b: a mark of shame or discredit : stain <bore the stigma of cowardice> c: an identifying mark or characteristic; specifically : a specific diagnostic sign of a disease.
Who wants to be stigmatized? No one! In the ideal world, everyone would be treated with love, dignity, and respect regardless of health (mental or physical), gender, race, culture, background, etc. I think all want to find acceptance for who they are as “unique” individuals and not labeled or stigmatized, branded in a negative light. Hey this is me - like me or not but don’t label me without even getting to know me! How fair is that? We are all unique but we all want the same things out of life: happiness, love, family! Who doesn’t want to be understood and treated fairly, justly, and kindly by others?
No matter what - we are all fellow humans - mentally ill or not! Education plays a major role in stamping out stigma in any form. Learning or being taught to see beyond the obvious, what appears on the surface or to the eyes. Learning to see the “REAL” person - the inner person underneath it all. Looking for the good - anybody can see the bad and label, stereotype or stigmatize. It takes courage, compassion, and fellow feeling, empathy, sympathy, humility, (and a little Humor too) to accept that we are all a work in progress and all of us deal with one issue or another - none of us are exempt! So, if we can learn to put up with one another, forgive one another, love one another, and help one another - treat our fellow humans: young, old, male, female, healthy or ill… in that manner, we can each do our part to stamp out stigma!
So, What do you think?
My Today.com MOOD is: 
under pressure…stressing.
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Chato B. Stewart
Mental Health Advocate - Cartoonist - and a few other things!
http://www.mentalhealthhumor.com
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Thx J
Sorry to read that you’re stressing today, Chato. Loved your stigma post. I agree that we ALL need to look beyond the labels and realize that we are works in progress. Thanks for the good writing and the reminder!
Jen@
www.happyfibrofamily.today.com
Good message here. We’re all people deserving of respect no matter our differences.
I spent several years working in suicide prevention with teenagers, and this is probably the biggest obstacle they had to overcome.
First off, CONGRATS on being Editor’s choice for last month!! You really do a great job with this blog, Chato
This is such a good message. I wish there were some way to get the message out to kids more. When I was in school, I was often tortured mentally and physically by other students who hated me just because I have a severe vision problem
Sierra
http://anxiety.today.com
Congratulations on winning the Editor’s Choice! I love the whole idea of your blog, tacking a sensitive subject with brevity. Kudos!
This such a great service your doing, Chato! Keep it up!
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If you have a sec, I’m trying to build traffic to my blog by 500 hits, so if you like it, drop me a line and maybe I can snag you as a regular reader!
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