Sanism, stigma and the belief in dangerousness

Mental Health, Mentalism and Sanism

“…Similarly, Thornicroft (2006) and Sayce (1998) argue that a focus on stigma was always too limiting for not only does it perpetuate medical conceptions/ language around mental health, but it minimizes the jagged reality of widespread rights abuse and oppression (or sanism) experienced by Mad individuals. Large and Ryan (2012) have argued the same with respect to the sanist belief in the dangerousness of Mad people. Finally, in a recent review of stigma and anti-oppressive social work practice, Holley et al (2012) find the term stigma to be grossly inadequate.…”

Last Bastion Nevermore! A Qualitative Exploration of the Australian Government’s Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan from the Perspective of Lessening Mental Stigma and Sanism in the Workplace

“…Sanism survives via society's patience for it (Procknow, 2017). With sanism now socially entrenched (Large & Ryan, 2012), Morrow and Weisser (2012, p. 40) describe discrimination towards the mentally unwell as "systemic." The medical model of disability reinforces this undesirable status quo.…”

“…Nevertheless, sanism cannot lay claim to be without ideological opposition. In addition to the need to address prejudices of racism, ageism and sexism, Large and Ryan (2012) also call for efforts to battle sanism. Mad Studies represent one form of this resistance.…”

“…Further, Thornicroft, Rose, Kassam and Sartorius (2007, p. 192) contend that stigma encompasses three connected components of prejudice, ignorance, and discrimination. Nevertheless, while agreeing that stigma might bring about discrimination, Large and Ryan (2012) also posit that discrimination via prejudice (i.e., through the "isms") is more common and identifiable. Intersecting with colonialism, Poole et al (2012, p. 21;Sayce, 1998), reinforce the need to look beyond stigma, as this concept preserves medical discourse about "mental health" while also minimising the oppression (i.e., sanism) as experienced by persons with histories of mental conditions.…”

Can violence risk assessment really assist in clinical decision-making?

“…The debate about our attitude to risk assessment is important. We believe the emphasis on risk at the expense of care has made psychiatry more coercive, psychiatrists more risk averse and has increased prejudice against our patients (Large, 2013; Large and Ryan, 2012). However, excathedra arguments are out of place in a debate that ought to be framed in terms of evidence, ethical analysis and reason.…”