Mental Health Awareness Month
May is mental health awareness month.
The mental health stigma has really come a long way the past few years and has decreased from what it used to be, but that doesn’t mean there still isn’t work to be done. I experience this stigma first hand just by being a mental health therapist and unfortunately hear about it from what clients face. I’m confident the stigma can continue to decline as society moves toward a healthy understanding.
What does it mean exactly to raise awareness to mental health? How do we properly 'celebrate' mental health awareness month? All good questions. I've been thinking about this too, and want to focus on the phrase "end the stigma". Ending any type of stigma usually happens through education, open discussions and being conscious of your language surrounding the topic.
Education
Mental health is often portrayed incorrectly in movies and TV shows and unless we’re properly informed on the topic, it’s easy to believe what we watch. Because truly as a therapist some of these movies and TV shows that portray mentally ill characters or that therapist character are CRINGE. Movies and TV are made for entertainment, not reality so keep that in mind.
Having open conversations about mental health with friends and family creates connection and a safe place to discuss and inform. If the topics aren’t being discussed within the family, kids are going to look for the information elsewhere which could be false information, and create a wedge in your communication with them.
Separating the person from their diagnosis- don’t say “that person is bipolar” say instead “that person has bipolar disorder”. That shift proves that the person is so much more than their diagnosis.
Mental health disorders are treatable- when we frame mental health disorders that way people feel more hopeful about seeking treatment instead of keeping the mindset of “I’ll feel like this forever”.
Open discussions
Stigma keeps people from asking for help and receiving the appropriate treatment they need. Family and friends are the closest people in our lives and also the most influential. If you feel that they have not grasped the concept of mental health what happens when you’re struggling and you can no longer rely on them for support in the ways you need? What happens if a family member “doesn’t believe in therapy”? Refusing to recognize mental health can be detrimental to those affected by mental illness or even someone who doesn’t have a diagnosable disorder and wants extra support of going to therapy (because that’s more common than not).
We don’t shame someone who had a heart attack and takes blood pressure medication so why would we shame someone who has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and takes anti-depressants?
Even for children and families who do not have a diagnosable mental health issue, good mental health includes the presence of healthy habits. Stigma can prevent children and families from talking about, exploring and addressing any feelings they have, which is an important part of raising healthy, resilient kids. A lot of people struggle with healthy communication and expressing their emotions; that often times starts in the family.
Show solidarity with others. Instead of saying “Are you sure you feel that way?” or “You just need to cheer up” take the time to really listen to the person sharing with you. Let them know that you stand with them and support them seeking extra support, like going to therapy or taking medications. If you're someone who’s struggling to understand why the other person feels the way they do and think “but you have nothing to be sad about” there’s always better questions to ask to further explore, help recognize and show acceptance of the other person and their emotions.
Every single person deserves to have their own therapist and to experience the support of therapy. Diagnosis or not.
Language
People with mental health disorders are seen as weak or lazy
“They aren’t responsible or get their chores done they must be depressed”
People with mental health disorders are seen as violent
“Only a crazy person would do that” categorizes someone who makes poor choices as mentally ill.
People with mental health disorders are incompetent
“I’m not sure we should hire someone who is open about their history of depression” or “My child suffers from social anxiety so I go with her everywhere”.
Language is one of the easiest ways to stop mental health stigma and spread awareness. It’s something that we can control individually on a daily basis. Instead of using mental health disorders to describe someone’s behavior stop and think what word can be used instead. Someone who can be described as a “clean freak” does not necessarily have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). If your friend doesn’t want to go out on Friday night due to their social anxiety they are not “lame and anti-social”. It’s time to stop using mental health diagnoses out of context.
Removing stigma means recognizing we are all more alike than different, refraining from making stigmatizing comments, having an ongoing conversation with your friends and family, and modeling love and acceptance.
Therapy resource
A great resource that can be utilized to help find a therapist near you who aligns with what you’re looking for is Psychology Today . You can filter your search by insurance provider, presenting issues, age, gender, etc. Finding a therapist who is a great fit for you is key to having a quality therapy experience. Not every therapist is for every client and not every client is for every therapist. It’s completely normal if you feel you didn’t connect with your therapist! Let them know and keep looking for one that feels right.
Psychology Today
Starting this month, I challenge you to consider your thoughts and words surrounding mental health and reflect how you can add to breaking the stigma. Educate yourself on topics you’re unsure of, have open discussions with people you trust and have empathy for those around you.
