Diagnosis & Stigma
When you speak to your GP about your experiences and symptoms, your GP may make a referral to a psychiatrist, who is a medical doctor specialised in mental health. Psychiatrists diagnose mental health conditions, and you may be given a diagnosis. A diagnosis is made based on whether or not a person has certain experiences or symptoms set out in guidelines known as ‘diagnostic criteria’. A diagnosis may help guide what medical treatments a psychiatrist can offer.
Short Films About Mental Health - Psychosis
SAMH Understanding psychosis
Not everyone gets a diagnosis
It can be confusing to receive one of these diagnoses or understand the differences between them. Indeed not all health professionals agree on how these are diagnosed or how useful these diagnoses are. Similarly, there are many people who might experience things such as hearing voices or unusual beliefs that do not cause them any distress, or affect their ability to manage day to day life. For these people they may not look for or need help from mental health services. These types of unusual experiences can perhaps be best thought of as on a continuum from ‘normal’ experiences, to more severe ‘symptoms’. For example, one in 10 people may hear voices at some point in their life, but the vast majority of those people do not need a diagnosis or any professional help. These unusual experiences are more common than you think.
There are lots of different views about mental illness diagnoses. Some people with a diagnosis disagree with it or think other things could explain their symptoms. Others find a diagnosis useful, as it puts a medical name to the experience and can help people find others with the same diagnosis who understand.
Stigma
People who receive a diagnosis sometimes worry about other people's reactions. This is understandable as mental illness is often misrepresented and misunderstood. 'Stigma' is when someone is treated differently to others in a negative way. Although steps are being taken to change social attitudes, people still experience stigma related to mental illness.
See Me. See Us
It's Okay | End Mental Health Stigma and Discrimination
It is important to remember that when someone is mentally unwell their behaviour is not necessarily a reflection of their personality (who they are as a person). One of the best ways to overcome stigma is to educate your family and friends about what you are going through.
One key reason it can be important to see a mental health professional can be that they are able to work out what will be helpful for someone based on their experiences. This might include talking therapy, medication or vocational support.
Finding relevant information can also be helpful; whether or not someone agrees with a diagnosis they are given. There are many useful resources out there, including a booklet called ‘Understanding Psychosis and Schizophrenia’ (see external resources below). Understanding more can help someone make the best decisions about what kind of treatment or support might be right for them.
It can also help to learn more about other people who have had similar experiences. The videos below are examples of people talking about their own experiences of psychosis:
How psychosis bends your reality - BBC
Psychosis Film
The voices in my head | Eleanor Longden
Compassion for Voices: a tale of courage and hope