Mental Illness STOP Criteria

Mental disease is a universal disease that people should stop mocking about people who are having mental illness. It is not acceptable. Depending on the recent research, when an individual has been marked with mental illness they can never fully recover. Thus people should be aware of the consequences of their actions.

STOP is an abbreviation to remind people what not to do. It is the criteria that help to identify the attitudes and actions that support the stigma of mental illness. STOP stands for people who exhibit the below attitudes and actions to people with mental illness:

• Stereotyping
• Trivializing
• Offending
• Patronizing

Journalists, advertisers, writers, Tv/radio producers, movie producers, columnists may be using STOP. If you observe a STOP behavior take an action!. Make a written compliment about the people who used the words to keep patients’ stigma alive.

What are the words that should be avoided to call people with mental illness?

• Insane
• Wacko/Whacko
• Wacky
• Ape
• Nutty
• Unbalanced
• Nutso
• Lunatic
• Delirious
• Cracked
• Flipped out
• Idiot
• Screwy
• Barmy
• Deranged
• Psycho
• Cuckoo
• Silly , foolish
• Screwball
• Maniac
• Mad
• Unzipped
• Crazy
• Potty
• Kooky
• Freaky
• Unglued
• Freaked out
• Dingy
• Daft
• Batty
• Demented

What are the Myths and Facts of Mental Illness?

• Myth-1: Patients who are suffering from mental illness are dangerous, aggressive and violent.
  Fact-1: The fact is patients who are suffering from mental illness are not more dangerous and violent than other people. However they are more likely to be the victims of the violence.
• Myth-2: Mental illness is a permanent problem that does not improve.
  Fact-2: With proper treatment, many people with mental illness improve substantially and are able to function in society.
• Myth-3: Mental illness is a single and uncommon disease with a very low incidence.
  Fact-3: Mental illness has a broad definition where it can not classifies as a single disease. Central Nervous System Disorders including schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, and etc.. can be classified within this definition.
• Myth-4: People who are suffering from mental illness are not in a good shape financially and they are not smart and intelligent as other people.
  Fact-4: Current clinical studies indicate that these patients’ intelligence is at least at the average levels of the general population. On the other than how much money you have is not the criteria for having this disease.
• Myth-5: People with mental illness should be confined to an institution.
  Fact-5: Most people with mental illness can live in the general population.
• Myth-6: Most "mental patients" are violent and commit crimes.
  Fact-6: Most people with mental illness are not violent and do not commit crimes.
• Myth-7: People with mental illness can perform unskilled tasks, but not mentally challenging jobs.
  Fact-7: Many people with mental illness work at the highest skill levels and hold challenging and demanding jobs.
• Myth-8: Mental illness only affects adults.
  Fact-8: Mental illness also occurs in children and teenagers.
• Myth-9: The main cause of Mental illness is a personal weakness
  Fact-9: Personal weakness does not indicate a mental illness. It has nothing to do with the character. Being weak is something different than mental illness.