Ruhsal Hastaliğa Sahip Bireylerde Damgalama Süreci ve İçselleştirilmiş Damgalama Stigma Process and Internalized Stigma among Individuals with Mental Illness

OZET Damgalama, bazi toplumlarda ruhsal hastalik gibi belirli insan ozel- likleriyle iliskili, olumsuz basmakalip dusuncelerin (stereotiplerin) te- tikledigi, sosyal statu kaybi ve ayirim olarak tanimlanmaktadir. Dam- galama, damgalanan kisiyi, icsel algilari, inanclari ve duygulari araci- ligiyla etkileyerek kisiye zarar verebilir. Bireyler siddetli ruhsal hasta- lik tanisi aldiklari zaman, toplumun ruhsal hastalikli insanlari etiketle- yerek reddedecegi ve degersizlestirecegine inanirlar. Buna bagli ola- rak da moral bozuklugu, benlik saygisinda azalma, sosyal uyumda bo- zulma, issizlik, gelir kaybi ve psikiyatrik tedaviye uyumda azalma gibi cok sayida olumsuz sonuclar deneyimlerler. Ruhsal hastaligi olan bir- cok kisi toplumdaki ruhsal hastaliklarla ilgili damgalamanin farkinda- dir ve bu hastalarin bazilari kendilerine yonelik damgalamayi onayla- makta ve bunun sonucu olarak kendi kendilerini damgalamaktadir- lar. Icsellestirilmis damgalama, olumsuz basmakalip dusuncelerin, ki- sinin kendisi tarafindan kabul edilmesi sonucu ortaya cikan, degersiz- lik, utanc, gizlilik ve geri cekilme olarak tanimlanabilir. Damgalamayi icsellestiren ruhsal hastaligi olan bireyler, daha fazla izole, yabancilas- mis ve sosyal olarak geri cekilmis olurlar. Icsellestirilmis damgalama hastalik semptomlarini kotulestirmekte ve iyilesmeyi engellemekte- dir. Icsellestirilmis damgalama damgalamanin bir sonucudur ve sag- lik profesyonellerinin degerlendirmesi ve onlemeye yonelik girisimle- ri planlamasi gereken bir durumdur. Bu derlemenin amaci, icsellesti- rilmis damgalama ve bas etme yontemlerine bakis acisi saglamaktir. Anahtar sozcukler: Damgalama; icsellestirilmis damgalama; ruhsal hastalik. SUMMARY Stigma is described as a loss of social status and discrimination triggered by negative stereotypes that have become linked in a particular society to a particular human characteristic, such as mental illness. Stigmatiza- tion can be harmful to the stigmatized person by affecting them via their internal perceptions, beliefs and emotions. When an individual with a se- vere mental illness label believes that society rejects and devalues those with mental illness, these patients suffer a number of negative outcomes, such as demoralization, lowered self-esteem, impaired social adapta- tion, unemployment, income loss, and reduced compliance to psychiat- ric medication. Most people with mental illness are aware of the stigma in society about mental illness, and some of these patients confirm the stigma towards them, and as a result, stigmatize themselves. Internal- ized stigma is the devaluation, shame, secrecy, and withdrawal result- ing from the adaptation of negative stereotypes to oneself. People with mental illness who internalize stigma are more isolated, alienated and socially withdrawn. Internalized stigma worsens symptoms and impedes recovery. Internalized stigma is one of the outcomes of stigma, and it is thus an issue that mental health professionals should assess in order to devise appropriate intervention plans towards its prevention. The aim of this article was to provide a viewpoint regarding internalized stigma and coping skills.