Fighting Mental Health Stigma
The month of May is Mental Health Awareness month. Every year we continue to fight stigma, educate the public and provide support for our community. If you or anyone you love is struggling with mental health issues, just remember that you are not alone. According to the American Psychological Association, nearly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience some form of mental illness. That is 19% of the U.S. population, and this number continues to increase every year. Let’s look at some ways that we can make changes in our lives to help fight mental health stigma.
1 – Talk Openly about Mental Health
Openly talking about mental health could help others who have mental health issues to feel more comfortable talking about it, and it starts to help normalize the fact that it does exist.
2 – Educate Yourself and Others
Take the time to educate yourself on things that you don’t understand about mental health so that you have a better understanding of these things, and take the time to educate others who are interested in learning as well. Be kind and use opportunities to create a safe and comfortable learning environment.
3 – Be Conscious of Language
Refrain from using mental health conditions as adjectives and remind others that their language matters. Encourage others to make a change in their language and realize that a lot of people are willing to change if you make them aware the change needs to be made. For example, instead of saying “I’m so OCD”, you could say “I have obsessive compulsive disorder and have issues with (insert issue you are dealing with)”.
4 – Choose Empowerment over Shame
If you struggle with mental health, you can empower others by talking about your mental health. This will help others know that they are not alone, and will help normalize mental health in our communities.
5 – Go to Therapy and be Honest about Treatment
You can fight mental health stigma by going to see a therapist and/or a psychiatrist, and being honest about going and getting treatment. Many people shy away from getting treatment because they are afraid of what others will think about them. Remember that when you go to the doctor that you’re more than likely not worried about what others are thinking about you because you are going to the doctor. So, try to apply that same mindset to getting treatment and talking about it with others.
6 – Show Compassion to Others with Mental Illness
Fight mental health stigma by showing compassion to others who have mental health issues. When all else fails, you can always lead by example and show others that everyone deserves respect, and showing compassion to others will not only fight this stigma but also make those suffering feel a little better from your kindness.
Rebecca Bennett
Mental Health Student Intern
