COVID and stigma- “You can’t sit with us”

By Damini Lalchand

I write this as someone who lives in London and travelled to India 10 weeks ago; as a result of the lockdown in India, I too found myself stranded like most. The experience is menacing, since I live every single day in uncertainty and worried about my loved ones back home. Whilst writing this article, I recall a few conversations and events that happened during my stay in India. Interestingly, most of these conversations were mixed with lack of awareness, understanding, and fear associated with the virus; all of these factors are associated with stigma. Having had some previous research experience in mental health literacy and its association with stigmatised attitudes; realised this can be extended to the attitudes and behaviour associated with the current COVID-19 crisis.

It should be noted that pandemic has happened in the past but the level of stigmatisation associated with COVID-19 is as bad as mental health illnesses. We have witnessed racist attacks as an outcome of confusion, which is known to be a contributing factor to stigmatised attitudes and behaviour (i.e., stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination). The confusion is normal because the virus is novel and the outcomes associated with the virus again are unusual, but the negative behavioural outcome of attacking people based on their race is not normal at all.

Years ago, it was normal for viral diseases to be linked with the region where the first outbreak of the virus was observed (e.g., Zika virus named after a forest in Uganda). In 2015, the WHO had to stop this practice to prevent the negative behaviour exhibited towards people from geographic regions of the first viral outbreak. This was done to make people realise that viruses can affect anybody regardless of race, caste, and creed. The disease caused by SARS-CoV2 was termed COVID-19; the naming implies the disease is caused by a coronavirus and the earliest outbreak was observed in 2019. Despite characterizing the disease like this and the warnings given by the WHO, numerous countries struggled to contain the spread of the virus.

Although the earliest outbreak of the virus was recognised in China; some people still associate COVID-19 as the ‘Chinese virus’ or ‘Wuhan virus’. Such references led people to blame China and assault innocent people of Asian lineage, around the world. As someone living in London, I still remember the critical stares and bitter treatment Asian people had endured towards the end of January; I found this extremely appalling. With more than 700,000 Chinese nationals studying in universities out of China, several had to return to China in fear. Many students are reluctant to get back and continue their studies in fear of being subjected to perpetual racialist attacks. The aforementioned fear possesses implications on these students’ futures and holds an impact on the revenue such students bring to a country; something people do not think about as they are vested on their absurdity.

Additionally, a stigma revolves around those in quarantine, self-isolation, or have been tested COVID positive. They become the obvious victim and as a result, subtly ostracised from their community. Numerous Indian nationals (those living abroad) who travelled to India between late February and March are now subjected to discrimination. Such nationals presently are branded the carriers of the coronavirus, despite being tested COVID negative or are under home quarantine as a precautionary measure. This discrimination is also extended to their family and friends.

This level of stigma can cripple a person, which is why it is important to voice against such social prejudices. This stigma harms a person who has tested positive or is in quarantine (as a precautionary measure) as follows:

1. The society starts to view such people as tainted, which eventually leads to discrimination. In some ways, this gets the individual subtly anathematised from society. [Public stigma]

2. This stigmatised attitude from society influences the individual itself. The person feels dehumanised and ashamed; this is an added stressor to the individual either fighting the virus and/or dealing with the quarantine alongside the backlash from the society.[Self stigma]

Health-related stigma is a consequence of diagnostic labels, which occur as an outcome of testing and receiving treatment. Correlating points stated above, some people would try to avoid getting a label at any cost by not getting tested, treated, or self-isolating; just to prevent themselves from being tainted, in the eyes of the society. The outcome of stigma is detrimental and would place all our efforts to contain the virus in vain. The experience of standing on the receiving end of such stigma is dehumanising as it negatively affects the individuals’ self-esteem and confidence.

The only way to reduce stigma is by building awareness, contact, and voicing against injustices. The allegories linked to COVID-19 can be reduced when people understand facts about transmission, diagnosis, and treatment (Corrigan, 2020). Utilizing trustworthy sources as WHO, CDC, and John Hopkins Coronavirus resource centre is the best starting point to understand the illness. This helps to prevent yourself from falling prey to misinformation. Furthermore, contact is the best way to understand the harm endured by those stigmatised. Research suggests interaction among those with mental illnesses is an effective way to oust prejudice and discrimination with ideas of respect (Corrigan & Watson, 2002). Lastly, asserting against injustices and advocating them must continue after the pandemic, as its impacts can ensue in our interaction with those who have been tested positive.

By exercising the above stated, we can reduce the stigma correlated with COVID-19. One should realise that they too can be on the receiving end of the stigma because it is a virus that does not discriminate and can affect anybody. This is where we can play a part to make a positive impact - you and I can advocate for these concerns as responsible citizens and uphold the values of being against stigma. In this grave moment for humanity, lets put a conclusion to social injustices associated with health-related stigma.

About the author

Damini Lalchand, MBPsS, M.Ps.S.I

Damini is a Ph.D. student based in the Department of Psychology and Sports Sciences at the University of Hertfordshire (UK) and has previous research experience of  mental health stigma associated with schizophrenia in South Asian communities. She has briefly worked with destitute women in South India, who have been abused and suffers from mental health illnesses. Her experiences of working with victims of abuses and passion for advocating mental health in the South Asian diaspora inspired her current work; looking at the association of resilience between childhood adversities and schizotypal traits in healthy adults of Indian backgrounds living in England.

Bibliography

Corrigan, P. (2020). On the Stigma of COVID-19. Retrieved 2 May 2020, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-stigma-effect/202004/the-stigma-covid-19

Corrigan, P. W., & Watson, A. C. (2002). Understanding the impact of stigma on people with mental illness. World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 1(1), 16–20.

Social Stigma associated with COVID-19: A guide to preventing and addressing social stigma. (2020). Retrieved 2 May 2020, from https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/covid19-stigma-guide.pdf?sfvrsn=226180f4_2

Stop the coronavirus stigma now. (2020). Nature, 580(7802), 165-165. doi: 10.1038/d41586-020-01009-0

Tur, K. J. (2020). Punjab’s NRIs face ostracisation, suspicion; unable to return home due to exorbitant ticket prices. The Caravan. Retrieved from https://caravanmagazine.in/health/nri-punjab-suspicion-unable-to-return-home