Don't Judge a Book by its Cover, Please.

Sometimes, a physical disability has symptoms that may be misinterpreted by members of society as mental or cognitive delays or disabilities. This is sometimes the case with Cerebral Palsy. CP is not one disability, instead it is many different disabilities that may affect the mental, physical, or both mental and physical health of a person diagnosed. 

Some people living with Cerebral Palsy do experience learning disabilities or brain delay, some people are only perceived this way as a result of trauma in the brain; causing the appearance of a mental illness. For example, if the part of the brain traumatized controls speech, the person affected by this particular type of CP will speak slowly with little clarity because of physical trauma to the brain, not because they have a learning disorder or mental delay.

 Although Cerebral Palsy is just one case of a physical disability that may be misconstrued as a mental disability, it is important that society recognizes that physical disability may disguise itself in this way, and that we as members of society become more aware of the distinction of mental and physical disability. It is stereotypical to assign someone into a label without knowing their actual diagnosis; and this is exactly what is occurring when people with physical disabilities are incorrectly “diagnosed” by members of society.

Beyond the limitations and discrimination that stereotyping implies, mislabeling is also a cause for many other factors that may exacerbate health conditions. A study done by Allison Bahm and Cheryl Forchuk (2009) examined the implications that comorbid stigmatization (stigmatization because of both a mental and physical disability) has on individuals. They found strong evidence to support the correlation that comorbid stigmatization has numerous negative effects on the individual subjected to it.

“These people represent a particularly vulnerable group in society, and special attention should be focused on addressing the source of the stigmatizing attitudes and behaviours… It is not enough to classify a person as feeling stigmatised or not” (Bahm & Forchuk, 2009).

Bahm & Forchuk also go on to explain the likely negative implications of this comorbid stigmatization:

“…increased perceived stigma and discrimination are associated with greater mental health problem severity, poorer life satisfaction and worse physical and emotional health, and thus using scales of perceived stigma and discrimination are more effective”.  (Bahm & Forchuk, 2009)

This study re-affirms the importance of equality for all, and especially the importance of giving everyone equal opportunity; a key element in the paradigm of a social democrat.  Not only do we as a society need to be nurturant and patient to people living with diabililties, but we must also be self-aware of our actions and the implications they may have. We must be cautious as to not make any judgments or maintain preconceived notions about people within our environment; this includes Bahm & Forchuk’s (2009) comorbid stigmatization.

One article I found online also demonstrated just how easy it is for people to get swept up in the media’s portrayal of disability, and the dangers of this occurrence, considering the much-too-often incorrect portrayal of mental and physical disability. This article explains “mental illness is consistently misrepresented in the media depictions through exaggerations and misinformation. Depictions are inaccurate, both in representing people as violent and dangerous” (Stout, Villegas, & Jennings, 2004)

These actions of misinterpreting the media’s representations of mental illness would have transferrable implications with respect to physical disability. As you can imagine, the implications incorrect assumptions based on media depictions hold are more than likely to have effects similar or equal to the ones Bahm & Forchuk have emphasized. These implications are very negative consequences; and consequences that are not deserved of at all by the recipients. Undeserving comorbid stigmatization may consequently exacerbate negative conditions making a life that may already be more difficult that it need be, even worse.

-Kelsey

 References:

Bahm, A., & Forchuk, C. (2009). Interlocking oppressions: The effect of a comorbid physical disability on perceived stigma and discrimination among mental health consumers in Canada. Health & social care in the community, 17, 63-70.

Stout, P. A., Villegas, J., & Jennings, N. A. (2004). Images of mental illness in the media: Identifying gaps in the research. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 30, 543-561.

The Cerebral Palsy Association of Manitoba. 2010. What is Cerebral Palsy? Retrieved from: http://www.cerebralpalsy.mb.ca/about.htm