Stigma and marginalisation: Structural violence and the impact on mental health

Abstract

Considering the high incidence of mental disorders, the link with health conditions, and that treatment for mental disorders is currently largely community-based, it is essential that social workers assume a central role in addressing the issues faced by people with mental disorders in the community World-wide people with mental disorders and their families suffer from stigma, marginalisation and structural violence. Conversely, marginalisation causes the poor, disadvantaged and vulnerable to suffer disproportionally from mental disorders. Social workers should be pivotal in working developmentally with people with mental disorders and address the marginalisation that causes many of their problems.