Psychiatric Association Warns Against Stigmatization of Covid-19 Patients

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Careful language must be used to prevent stigmatization of and discrimination against Covid-19 patients, as well as "potential scapegoats" for the disease, the Psychiatric Association of Turkey has warned.

"What is the most painful and destructive effect of stigma is that people think they are no longer members of the society they feel connected to," the association said in a statement.

Addressing people, journalists, health workers and the government, it said that Covid-19 patients shouldn't be referred to as "cases," "victims" or "diseased" and suggested "people with Covid-19," "people being treated for Covid-19" and "people recovering from Covid-19."

"After they recover, their lives will continue with their jobs, families and loved ones. In order to reduce stigma, it is important that people don't have an identity defined with Covid-19," the statement said. "We advise fighting against the disease with a culture of solidarity by considering the well-being of others."

The association also warned that people from China and Europe, people who returned from abroad, patients and their relatives, people recovered from Covid-19 and health workers might be "scapegoats" and subjected to stigmatization. (AÖ/VK)