Overcoming Stigma Through Education and Capacity Building in Communities
Overcoming Stigma Through Education and Capacity Building in Communities
Behavior Health News, Spring 2023
Helena Maguire, MS, LABA, BCBA, CDE®
Executive Director, Melmark New England
Maggie Haag, MEd, BCBA, LSW, CDE®
Executive Director, Melmark Pennsylvania
Ashley Benedetto, MS Ed, BCBA
Director, Adult Day Programs, Melmark Pennsylvania
Social Stigma, according to Wikipedia, is the disapproval of, or is discrimination against, an individual or identifiable group of people based on perceived characteristics that serve to distinguish them from other members of a society. Stigma can negatively affect the emotional, mental, and physical health of affected individuals often resulting in isolation or feelings of depression, anxiety, and shame. At times, we see that social stigma often leads to discriminatory acts by others. Such discrimination can be intentional or an unconscious bias. Regardless of the motivation, individuals may have experiences of rejection by other groups, verbal abuse, and physical abuse or denied access to basic needs such as education, healthcare, and employment.
