How Can We Reduce the Stigma Surrounding Mental Health?
How Can We Reduce the Stigma Surrounding Mental Health?
The growing stigma surrounding mental health must be broken down for more people to seek out the help they need.
The growing stigma surrounding mental health must be broken down for more people to seek out the help they need.
According to the World Health Organization, mental health illnesses affect one in four people, which amounts to be 450 million people worldwide. Not only can these mental illnesses be burdensome, but they can weigh people down when they don’t seek out the proper help. Oftentimes, appropriate help isn’t sought after for fear of being judged or talked down to. This fear typically comes from the stigma surrounding mental health, but it can also come from past negative experiences. In order for people to receive proper help, the stigma surrounding mental health must be broken down, and the best way to do that is to speak publicly about it, educate yourself, and participate in learning programs.
When to Seek Help
While seeking help may seem daunting, it is clear that one must seek help when their mental illness is taking over their lives. The Mayo Clinic suggests asking a medical professional for help if you notice a change in your eating/sleeping habits, mood swings, or if you’re experiencing an inability to cope with everyday problems. If these traits are seen in others, it is a good idea to talk to them about it or encourage them to look for help. Not everyone will be comfortable asking for help, but being a calm, reliable figure in their life can help ease the nerves they may be experiencing.
While seeking help may seem daunting, it is clear that one must seek help when their mental illness is taking over their lives. The Mayo Clinic suggests asking a medical professional for help if you notice a change in your eating/sleeping habits, mood swings, or if you’re experiencing an inability to cope with everyday problems. If these traits are seen in others, it is a good idea to talk to them about it or encourage them to look for help. Not everyone will be comfortable asking for help, but being a calm, reliable figure in their life can help ease the nerves they may be experiencing.
Speak Out Publicly About Your Struggles
The University of Michigan’s Eisenberg Family Depression Center strongly encourages people to share their own mental health stories with others. Not only can you help yourself heal from your struggles, but you can help others understand they are not alone. The negative perception of mental health illnesses generally leaves many people feeling alone and helpless; talking about your personal experiences can help others feel like they aren’t going through it by themselves. Additionally, talking about your own experience getting help may encourage others to pursue help too, or give them the confidence they need to open up to their friends and family about their struggles.
The University of Michigan’s Eisenberg Family Depression Center strongly encourages people to share their own mental health stories with others. Not only can you help yourself heal from your struggles, but you can help others understand they are not alone. The negative perception of mental health illnesses generally leaves many people feeling alone and helpless; talking about your personal experiences can help others feel like they aren’t going through it by themselves. Additionally, talking about your own experience getting help may encourage others to pursue help too, or give them the confidence they need to open up to their friends and family about their struggles.
Educate Yourself
While speaking out about mental health issues is one of the best ways to reduce the stigma surrounding it, educating yourself and others can have a huge impact as well. The Eisenberg Family Depression Center states that “education is the most powerful tool you can use to counter any shame you may feel about your mental illness and to make sure others know what mental illness is (and isn’t).” Educating yourself and others allows people to better understanding mental illness while simultaneously removing the negative connotation that comes along with the words “mental illness.” Many people may feel afraid to talk about mental health because they’re not quite sure what it is or isn’t and teaching them about this subject can help knock down the wall surrounding mental health in their minds. Helping to educate others can encourage them to look for warning signs in their friends and suggest help to them if needed.
While speaking out about mental health issues is one of the best ways to reduce the stigma surrounding it, educating yourself and others can have a huge impact as well. The Eisenberg Family Depression Center states that “education is the most powerful tool you can use to counter any shame you may feel about your mental illness and to make sure others know what mental illness is (and isn’t).” Educating yourself and others allows people to better understanding mental illness while simultaneously removing the negative connotation that comes along with the words “mental illness.” Many people may feel afraid to talk about mental health because they’re not quite sure what it is or isn’t and teaching them about this subject can help knock down the wall surrounding mental health in their minds. Helping to educate others can encourage them to look for warning signs in their friends and suggest help to them if needed.
Education Programs
In the newspaper, The Frederick News-Post, author Ed Waters Jr. writes about a training program to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness, “the Mental Health Association of Frederick County will offer a mental health first aid course.” Taking steps like joining a first aid course to be educated on signs and symptoms of mental health illnesses also reduces the stigma. The information offered in this course is vital to everyday life as Amy Thompson, the director of human resources and administration for mental health first aid, states, “individuals are more likely to encounter someone with a mental illness than one having a heart attack… More than one-fourth of the population has a diagnosable mental illness… that could rise to nearly 50 percent in the future.” The information in this course is likely to be used nearly every day of a person’s life as they will be able to quickly scout for warning signs of mental illness in others. Not only would this course train people on what to do in a mental health emergency, but it would also give them the power to share this information with others.
In the newspaper, The Frederick News-Post, author Ed Waters Jr. writes about a training program to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness, “the Mental Health Association of Frederick County will offer a mental health first aid course.” Taking steps like joining a first aid course to be educated on signs and symptoms of mental health illnesses also reduces the stigma. The information offered in this course is vital to everyday life as Amy Thompson, the director of human resources and administration for mental health first aid, states, “individuals are more likely to encounter someone with a mental illness than one having a heart attack… More than one-fourth of the population has a diagnosable mental illness… that could rise to nearly 50 percent in the future.” The information in this course is likely to be used nearly every day of a person’s life as they will be able to quickly scout for warning signs of mental illness in others. Not only would this course train people on what to do in a mental health emergency, but it would also give them the power to share this information with others.
How Will Educating One Person Reduce the Stigma?
Many people may believe the stigma surrounding mental health is not able to be reduced; however, using the above techniques will help spread a much more positive connotation surrounding mental health illnesses. It is likely that people believe educating or talking to one person will not cause a big impact, but one person has the ability to start a chain reaction. One domino can knock down a whole line, and if you think of the one person as the domino, the chain reaction becomes obvious. One person can educate another, who can, in turn, educate 50 more people; there is no limit as to how far one person can reach. It may take years of conversation and education, but the stigma surrounding mental health can be reduced, and that could save somebody’s life.
Many people may believe the stigma surrounding mental health is not able to be reduced; however, using the above techniques will help spread a much more positive connotation surrounding mental health illnesses. It is likely that people believe educating or talking to one person will not cause a big impact, but one person has the ability to start a chain reaction. One domino can knock down a whole line, and if you think of the one person as the domino, the chain reaction becomes obvious. One person can educate another, who can, in turn, educate 50 more people; there is no limit as to how far one person can reach. It may take years of conversation and education, but the stigma surrounding mental health can be reduced, and that could save somebody’s life.
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