Electronic Letters to:

PAPERS:
SING LEE, MARGARET T. Y. LEE, MARCUS Y. L. CHIU, and ARTHUR KLEINMAN
Experience of social stigma by people with schizophrenia in Hong Kong
The British Journal of Psychiatry 2005; 186: 153-157 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
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[Read eLetter] A Peculiar Use of Language
Harold A. Maio   (3 February 2005)

A Peculiar Use of Language 3 February 2005
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Harold A. Maio,
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Re: A Peculiar Use of Language

khmaio{at}earthlink.net Harold A. Maio

Editors:

The employ of the term "stigma" interests me greatly. Although widely seen in the area of mental health, it does not occur widely in other medical specialities. I am also never completely sure what people mean when they edit this term into discussion.

There appear to be two meanings, one a physical sign, and the other an attitude. No physical sign actually appears on persons with schizophrenia, or any mental illness, so its intended use in this article must be an attitude, a negative attitude, a negative response.

The term "stigma" has occurred before in history, and each once- accepted "stigma" has been overcome with education. Generally attitudes based upon a lack of information, an ignorance, change when education takes place.

Would it not be more productive, for mental health professions, as well as for people experiencing mental illnesses, if the professions focused on education, information?

Harold A. Maio Consulting Editor Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal Boston University

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