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Mental health stigma is a big problem that can have a profound and lasting impact. Despite the high level of treatment and awareness of mental health issues in society, the stigma of mental health persists. Stigma is like a scar or blemish – a mark of shame that leaves the bearer alienated, shamed, and alone. This is not right. Stigma causes people to suffer in silence and deters them from seeking the help they need. It can be pretty isolating and lonely to suffer from mental health issues, but fortunately, there are lots of ways to overcome the stigma. Two of these strategies are taking action on your own and asking for help.
It’s time to end the stigma: mental health is a medical condition, and it’s okay to talk about it. The more we talk about mental health, the more people will feel comfortable seeking help when they need it.
The following tips will help you in your quest to end mental health stigma and get the help you need:
1. Realize That You’re Not Alone
It is very stressful to live with mental illness. Others are afraid to burden family or friends with their problems because they don’t want to be judged. Even though talking with someone may seem overwhelming at times, you may wish to seek the help of a trained counselor or therapist.
To do this, the first step is to realize that if you are dealing with a mental health problem, you’re not alone. The fact is that one in five adults experiences some form of mental illness in their lifetime. Therefore, it’s important to know that other people understand your problem. Although they may never experience what it feels like to be depressed or anxious or have OCD, they can empathize with what you’re going through and help support you through treatment and recovery.
Even though many people are dealing with mental illnesses, few seek professional help because of the stigma attached to these conditions. Everyone – including family members, friends, and even doctors – should recognize the importance of seeking mental health treatment.
2. Ask For Help
If you’re not feeling well, asking for help is okay. The shame that surrounds mental health has a significant impact on people who are suffering. They often feel like they have to deal with the problem on their own and that admitting they need help is a sign of weakness.
Mental illness isn’t a character flaw or permanent state of being. Nor does it mean you’re crazy. Many highly successful people suffer from mental illness at some point in their lives.
It’s essential to note that there is no “mainstream” when it comes to mental health, and everybody experiences various symptoms. People with mental illnesses often hear statements like “Snap out of it,” “Toughen up,” or “You should be able to control this.” These say more about our cultural attitudes toward mental illness than they do about the severity of the illness itself.
When we talk about physical health, we never presume that someone can “snap out of” cancer or diabetes. It’s unacceptable to talk about a broken leg as if it will magically heal itself — but somehow, this attitude is pervasive when we discuss mental health problems.
3. Find Positive Role Models for Mental Health.
Stories have a unique way of connecting us as people and motivating us to take on great challenges. The same is true for combatting mental health. Finding a positive role model with an inspiring story can significantly impact your mental health. This person can be anyone from a friend to a celebrity—it just has to be someone who openly discusses their own mental health trials.
You will feel more comfortable talking about your mental health if they are open about their own struggles. One way to find these role models is by asking people in your social circle or online community if they have any recommendations. You might also consider finding someone through a support group who has previously struggled with mental health issues and found success in overcoming them.
4. Reflect on Your Thoughts
Another critical step is challenging negative thinking. Negative thinking patterns are just that — patterns. They’re ingrained in our behavioral thought process but don’t have to be permanent fixtures of our psyche. It is important to take a step back to determine if the negative thought is a fact or opinion given by your psyche.
By learning to challenge your negative thoughts, you can regain control over how you respond to them emotionally. It also allows you to replace them with positive facts or thoughts. You have the power to change your perspective on your situation and begin shining a light on the potential for improvement in your life.
5. Be Prepared
If someone asks why you’re seeking help or what’s wrong, have an answer ready. Talking about mental health can be uncomfortable for everyone. Being confronted with these questions can raise feelings of shame and make us self-conscious about our need for help. But, to reduce the stigma of mental health problems, we have to reduce our fear of them. The more open we are about mental health problems, the more likely we are to break down both the fear and the barriers that prevent people from accessing the treatment they need.
The moments when asked about our condition and treatment are so valuable. When you’re prepared to give a composed answer and engage in dialogue around treatment, you may be educating someone. And help them recognize their suffering or possibly inspire them to seek support. It’s also good to prepare an answer for children who might ask what therapy involves and how it works.
However, if you’re not ready to discuss your mental health journey at any time, being prepared to communicate that is also a tremendously courageous and exceptional answer to give.
6. Continue to Educate Yourself and Others
Learn as much as possible about your condition to understand what it is and how to manage it. This helps other people understand what you’re dealing with by sharing what you’ve learned and educating them on how to help you. You can also learn common myths about mental illness and how to respond when these myths are used against you in an unkind way.
Mental illness is not a choice or a weakness. The stigma surrounding mental illness is still very much a problem, but one thing that can help is being more open and honest about mental health issues.
Dealing with mental illness can be an incredibly difficult experience. It can lead to feelings of isolation or even hopelessness when you’re having a hard time. Sometimes, struggling with mental illness can feel like sinking deeper into a pit you’re unable to pull yourself out of.
Given the nature of mental illness and the fact that it affects millions of people worldwide, it’s not surprising that many people want to avoid talking about it. However, by avoiding open discussion about mental illness, we are only perpetuating the stigma against it. It is crucial that we talk openly and honestly about mental health issues with people among our family and friends. It is great to see people engaging in positive conversations around mental illness on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Each one of these conversations chips away at the stigma of mental health little by little.
Final Notes on Mental Health Stigma
There’s a stigma around mental health by design. Many people fear talking about it because they fear being seen as “not normal.” But people do have a right to speak about their mental health, especially if it’s affecting their work, happiness, and family.
Though it can be difficult, these five strategies can help you navigate coping with mental health and the social pressures surrounding it more effectively. Hopefully, you will never have to use them, but if you do, hopefully, now you will know what to do to cope with being affected by mental health issues.
