Abstract

GONZALEZ ALVAREZ, Onésimo. Mental illness, stigma and legislation. Rev. Asoc. Esp. Neuropsiq. [online]. 2009, vol.29, n.2, pp.471-478. ISSN 2340-2733.

The stigma (shameful mark or signal) attached to the diagnostic label or stay in psychiatric institutions holds serious consequences for the subjects, mostly social exclusion and restriction or denial of citizenship. We focus on the advanced character of the legislation in Spain and its de-stigmatizing and inclusive potentialities, as well as the persistence of significant barriers to its full implementation, in the form of resistances of those affected and their families, professionals and institutions related to mental illness.

Keywords : Mental illness; stigma; legislation; diagnostic label; psychiatric hospitalization; social exclusion; person; citizenship; social dangerousness.

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