More work needed to correct ‘myths’ around serious mental illness – clinician

More needs to be done to “correct the myths” around severe mental illness (SMI), a senior clinician has said, as a survey shows nearly three quarters of Scots think there is stigmatisation around it.

The research, by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland (RCPS), found that 72% of Scots think there is a problem with stigmatisation of SMI, and 73% think there are still misconceptions.

Seventy-three per cent also said there was a lack of awareness and education around SMI, which includes conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and eating disorders, which affect tens of thousands of people in Scotland.

The RCPS pointed to statistics showing that in 2021 16,200 people in Scotland were living with schizophrenia, while 52,697 had bipolar disorder and 20,104 had an eating disorder.

The survey also found that fewer than half (45%) of Scots thought the public’s understanding of SMI is better today than it was five years ago.

Dr Jane Morris, chairwoman of RCPS, said: “These figures speak for themselves – we still have a problem with the understanding of what severe mental illness actually is.

“Over recent decades there has been a lot of work to reduce stigma around mental conditions such as anxiety and low-level depression, but our polling shows much more work is needed to correct the myths and lack of knowledge around severe mental illnesses, in particular schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe OCD and comparable conditions.

“I have close friends and dear colleagues who as patients or family have endured the unimaginable suffering these illnesses bring.

“I’ve seen the courage with which they have learned to trust their psychiatrists and tolerate the treatments and side effects they needed.

“I’ve seen too, how expert treatment has restored them to generous and creative lives.”

Graham Morgan, 61, an author and mental health campaigner who has lived with paranoid schizophrenia for more than 40 years, described the result of the survey as “quite shocking.”

“The polling results makes for quite shocking reading but sadly the data is not surprising,” he said.

“There is not enough said about what severe mental illness is – in an easy and simple way.

“Friends and family can feel very lonely when a loved one is diagnosed and it’s bewildering for a lot of people.

“I have a very happy life. I live in a beautiful part of Scotland and I’m active in speaking out about mental illness.

“All my life I have been open about my schizophrenia and my compulsory treatment and almost always, people have been interested, accepting and kind about it.

“However, there are people who view us strangely. One person even said to me at an airport that people like me were scum and did not deserve to live.

“Another person close to me said people like me were incapable of love and emotion and it is the sad reality of a disability like mine.

“We need to look at how severe mental illness is viewed in society. Some mental illnesses are very treatable, and people can lead good lives.

“Given how far society has moved on in other areas we shouldn’t have to deal with stigma in this day in age.”

The RCPS will now embark on a campaign to educate policymakers about SMI ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election.

Dr Morris said: “Ahead of the forthcoming elections the College and our partners want to educate politicians from all parties to consider severe mental illnesses.

“A greater understanding can lead to saving and improving lives.”

The online survey was carried out by polling company YouGov and had a total sample size of 1,067 adults, with fieldwork being undertaken between July 24-19 2024.

RCPS is the professional medical body for psychiatry in Scotland, and sets standards and promotes excellence in psychiatry and mental healthcare.