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Stigma refers to a cluster of negative attitudes and beliefs that motivate the general public to fear, reject, avoid and discriminate against people… Stigma is not just a matter of using the wrong word or action. Stigma is about disrespect. It is the use of negative labels to identify a person… Stigma is a barrier. Fear of stigma and the resulting discrimination discourages individuals and their families from getting the help they need (SAMHSA, 2004, p. 12).

Mass media and pop culture can influence peoples attitudes about a variety of topics, including mental illness and disability. This influence can be negative, resulting in stigmatization, or positive. Social attitudes can further impact whether people seek treatment or discuss their lived experiences with others. 

Step 1 (1 post, min. of 150 words)
For this activity, consider recent media or pop culture that portrays mental illness and/or a disability. Summarize one specific example and discuss how this portrayal does or does not stigmatize the person with the mental illness and/or disability. Post your response to this discussion board. Include a link to your example in your post (this could be a link to the IMDB (Links to an external site.) entry for a movie or TV show, a link to a news article, etc.).

Step 2 (1 reply, min. of 150 words)
After posting about your example, thoughtfully reply to one other person that discussed a different example than you did (and, preferably, an example with which youre familiar). Your reply should include whether you agree or disagree with their analysis of stigmatization (and why) as well as an open-ended question to provoke further discussion.

Additionally, you are expected to respond promptly to people who reply to any of your posts throughout this week.

Resources

How do I view the rubric for my graded discussion? (Links to an external site.)
20 Tips For Writing An A+ Discussion Post For Your Online Class (Links to an external site.)
Designing Effective Discussion Questions (Links to an external site.)
Reference

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). School Materials for a Mental Health Friendly Classroom. (2004). Retrieved from https://www.prevention.org/Resources/2e2ba6ce-1e47-40ec-b49d-f7952b1f95a1/School%20Materials%20for%20a%20Mental%20Health%20Friendly%20Classroom.pdf