Communication Experiences of Mental Disorder Survivors in Facing Social Stigma

Abstract

Geger District, Bangkalan Regency, Madura, recorded 150 people experiencing mental disorders, 31 of whom are in the recovery phase. Amidst this recovery process, survivors still face strong social stigma from their surrounding environment, manifested through labels such as "insane," social exclusion, and discrimination in daily interactions. This study aims to analyze the communication experiences of survivors of mental disorders in dealing with social stigma in Geger District, Bangkalan Regency, Madura. This study used a qualitative approach with a phenomenological method. Informants were determined using a purposive sampling technique, and data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation, analyzed using source and technique triangulation. The results showed that survivors faced four forms of stigma: labeling, stereotyping, social separation, and discrimination. In responding to this stigma, survivors used verbal communication experiences in the form of self-clarification and silence, as well as nonverbal communication experiences in the form of aggressive responses and self-assertion through productive actions. These findings indicate that survivors are not only objects of stigma, but also active actors who manage their identities in social interactions. This research contributes to the development of stigma communication studies in the context of collectivist societies and serves as a basis for strengthening community-based communication interventions on mental health issues.