#HAChat Recap – July 9, 2013
The following is a recap from our recent #HAChat about combating stigma related to health issues and conditions. We’re always looking for new ideas to help you grow – please email editorial@wegohealth.com with suggestions or if you’d like to host a future #HAChat!
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Afternoon, Health Activists! Welcome to today’s #hachat!
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Last week, we discussed how stigma has affected us. Today,we’ll discuss how to combat stigma! #hachat
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T1: What are some ways you combat stigma? #hachat
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T1: I have written past posts about misconceptions surrounding neurological conditions and then setting the record straight! #hachat
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T1. Sometimes education helps. Also, living as if there were no associated stigma (“I’m rubber, you’re glue…”) ignore the insult. #hachat
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I blog/fb/tweet about it and hope that people are reading and understanding #hachat
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T1. Just being open and honest, online and in person. Part of the stigma sometimes can just be asking someone about their condition #hachat
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T1: I think that sharing experiences can be more effective than other forms of education in terms of medical literature, stats, etc #hachat
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T1.1: What would you say to someone facing stigma and doesn’t know how to cope? #hachat
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@wegohealth Look online for resources to realize that you’re not alone. There’s a HUGE online community with open arms! #hachat
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T1.1: I would advise them to join a support group; sometimes sharing experiences of stigma can help realise you’re not alone #hachat
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@wegohealth I would say: Go online, chat w/bloggers who are experiencing same thing – talk with friends. Combat fear = find solution #hachat
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T1.1 Often all you can do is let them know even if others don’t understand, there are plenty out there who do and are there for you. #hachat
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@wegohealth T1.1: “knowledge is power” – inform, engage, and communicate! They are not alone, there is support #hachat
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@wegohealth We would say: You’re not alone. Reach out to others. Talk to someone. #hachat
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Going online and finding like-minded souls is key #hachat
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T1.2: What are ways this person can fight stigma? #hachat
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Educate those who stigmatize. Teach them that a person is not their disease #hachat
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T1.2: Learn, engage, educate others, prove self in ways unconnected to #chronicillness #hachat
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T1.2: The ways in which they can help stop stigma is by writing in blogs, articles,pamphlets, share experiences via social media #hachat
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T2: What can friends or family members do to reduce stigma? #hachat
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Family and friends can educate themselves about their loved one’s diseases #hachat
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Myths about cancer and how people cope with it: cancer.gov/cancertopics/p… #hachat
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@wegohealth be supportive of your friend or family member facing #stigma— you show this by going to stigma-reduction events, etc #hachat
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T2. Stand up for you when someone else tries to exclude you or blame you or stigmatize you #hachat
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@wegohealth T2 Ask them to learn about your illness & be an advocate for you, if they’re comfortable doing so. #hachat
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T2.1: What are some expressions that can cause stigma that people should avoid? #hachat
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T2.1: “Should you {eat/drink/do} that [with your condition]?” #hachat
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@wegohealth Saying things like “I’m so OCD” when they mean they are particular. It’s different. A LOT different! #hachat
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T2.1: “Perhaps, you need to go out more; you’re not getting out enough…” #hachat
“You brought this on yourself!” More on this at “When The Stigma of Disease Makes Diagnosis Worse” wp.me/pD9Pq-2oJ #hachat
@serenebutterfly Conversely, my {insert relation here} died from that, suffered x complications, etc. #hachat
T2.1: ” My {insert relation here} had that; they still managed to have a job and go out, etc…” #hachat
Ooo, love that one! One-upmanship! Often said with that vaguely disapproving look as if you’re a slacker! @serenebutterfly #hachat
@serenebutterfly Seriously. I had someone say I should go out more/do stimulating things when I said that I get tired a lot. #celiac #hachat
T2.1: “BUT you don’t look sick!!” is a big one that a lot of people experiencing #invisibleillness hear #hachat
T3: Are healthcare providers sensitive to preventing stigma? #hachat
@wegohealth they can either be one of ur biggest supporters or biggest sources of #stigma depending on where in the world u are. #hachat
In my experience within the UK healthcare system, stigma can still occur from doctors, etc. Charities and organisations do better #hachat
T3 Healthcare providers often instigate stigma just by seeking causal links: Are you a smoker? How much do you exercise? @wegohealth #hachat
@AutoimmuneGal I have some concerns about aggressive treatment: adverse reactions (aka, “the cure is worse than the disease”)… #hachat
T3.1: What can providers do to decrease medical stigma? #hachat
Understand the person, not just the disease #hachat
@wegohealth Training is impt about preventing bias. Medicine is supposed to be a human profession. #hachat
@wegohealth T3.1 Educate themselves – it’s generally NOT the patient’s fault. Don’t blame them even if it IS lifestyle-mitigated. #hachat
T3.1: I think they could be careful of the language they use with patients and not to use words which could be seen as stigmatising #hachat
T3.1: Treat to the patient’s individual circumstances, not just textbook generalities. $$, family, job, environment, genetic issues #hachat
@wegohealth T3.1 Let patients give ideas. “Participatory medicine” is like cursing to so many drs, but it’s so important. #hachat
T3, 1: Hcare professionals need to recognize their hidden biases & understand the difference between assumption & fact. #hachat
@wegohealth We also should not say patients failed on medications. Medications prescribed &/or prescribers may have failed patients #hachat
T4: What are some ways to change society’s views on stigma regarding medical conditions? #hachat
T4: If everyone has the same condition… do we see it as stigmatizing? Or do change our understanding of “normal”? #hachat
Spread awareness abt ur condition in a meaningful easy to explain way. Humanize the condition. Often the unknown causes stigma. #hachat
T4: Tough! More publicity and advertising surrounding health campaigns would be a great start. Stigma is a result of non-awareness #hachat
@wegohealth T4 sounds the same as T1: ways to combat stigma? Do one and you’ll accomplish the other #hachat
We in the media need to be more careful about the words we choose & the assumptions/stereotyping we bring to our coverage. #hachat
Well said Anne! @AnnePolta Words do matter. For example: promise me you won’t use the word “compliance” in your health articles… #hachat
T4: Just making people more aware; giving a face to the condition or illness can help. Makes it seem less scary #hachat
help educate one person at a time #hachat
T4: More accurate portrayls of illness in TV and film as they always show the worst case scenarios!! #hachat
@serenebutterfly Sometimes they show miracle cures, sometimes they forget it after 2 episodes, sometimes they are grossly inaccurate #hachat
T4.1: Have you seen a successful program and/or ad campaign to reduce stigma? #hachat
@wegohealth T4.1 r-word.org #hachat
@Stigma_Project and #1in3 campaign by @advocatestweets / @AmplifyTweets. gonna keep singing their stigma-fighting praises #hachat
@wegohealth @imstilljosh is reducing #HIV #stigma through creating a Digital Encouragement Wall ow.ly/mO4R8 #hachat
T4.1: The portrayl of bipolar disorder in ‘Homeland’ was very good #hachat
Thank you all for joining and sharing with us today! #hachat
Looks like lots can be done to help prevent stigma. #hachat
@wegohealth Thanks, as always, for hosting the chat. #hachat
Please join us next Tuesday – same time, same hashtag! #hachat
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