According to Facing the World, many children suffer from severe mental health issues as a result of their condition. The charity claims that most are unable to attend school or become productive members of society.1 And not only do the children’s facial differences affect them, they greatly impact their families too. Facing the World notes that with a lack of education in Vietnam around how and why the deformities occur, families are often blamed and shunned by their community.1
In a study published in the Journal of Paediatric Psychology, researchers explain that individuals with visible differences are likely to experience stigmatising behaviours such as staring, avoiding, teasing and manifestations of pity. They also say that the severity of a condition is not a reliable predictor of psychological distress, meaning even those with slight facial differences can be affected.2
After conducting a literature review of available information on the subject, as well as leading their own research for the study, titled ‘Stigmatisation Predicts Psychological Adjustment and Quality…
