6 ways to break the Stigma against Mental Health
January 27, 2023 2023-02-17 18:126 ways to break the Stigma against Mental Health
Mental health is a matter of concern but usually, people are not open about it. We feel shame to share our mental health issues. When we end up having a fractured hand we don’t hesitate to share it with our friends but when we are having depression, phobia, or any other mental illness we usually fear sharing it with people.
- Why do we fear or hesitate to tell people about our mental state?
- Why mental illnesses are not treated the same as a physical illnesses?
- Do people aware of mental illness?
- Why seeking help from mental health professionals a taboo topic in society?
- Why there is a stigma attached to mental illnesses?
We fear others’ judgment towards us. People often misinterpret mental illness as the possession or influence of ghosts. People distance themselves from the mentally ill.
People going through mental health illnesses often have to face critical comments, bullying, and violence from their families, relatives, and society. They are not accepted in society as normal human beings. They face difficulties in school, the workplace, and other social gathering. The stigma related to mental health creates major difficulties for the mentally ill. Stigma worsens the condition of the mentally ill person. They have to face prejudice, shame, guilt, and self-criticism. Mentally ill have to fight a battle with both: oneself and others.
1. Start Talking Openly About Mental Health
Start by talking to family and friends about mental health. Initiate conversations related to mental health and ask about others’ opinions. It will help if you talk about your mental state first and then ask others to share theirs. Make an environment where people can talk about their problems.
2. Change Starts With You
Start educating yourself by learning about the symptoms of mental illnesses and treatment measures. Recognition of symptoms should be as common as symptoms of fever and malaria. If you are aware of mental illnesses then you can educate others about them.
3. Set Up Awareness Programs
To reach out to the mass community, create an awareness program related to mental health. Reach out to schools, colleges, and workplaces to create awareness. Reach out to rural areas and villages to change their beliefs regarding mental illnesses.
4. Mental illness vs. Physical illness
Our mind and body are equally important. Likewise, mental illness is as equally important as physical illness. Give mental illness as much priority as physical illnesses such as diabetes, blood pressure, etc.
5. Equalize Treatments
It is okay to seek help for mental illness same as seeking help for physical illness. It is okay if you are taking counseling or therapy or psychiatric medicine. Treatments are processes in which people heal. Due to a lack of knowledge of mental illness people have misconceptions about treatment measures. They end up visiting in the wrong place often. There is scientific treatment available to cure mental illness. Referring and guiding somebody to the right place can create a huge change in the mentally ill’s life. Reaching out to mental health professionals is as normal as reaching out to a trained doctor.
6. Show Compassion and Empathy
Be kind towards the mentally ill. Support them to win their battle. Have compassion for people having a mental illness. Have empathy for them and their families. Mind your language and use appropriate words when dealing with the mentally ill. You can break the stigma by speaking out for yourself and others. Avoid using mental illness adjectives such as ‘depressed’, ‘insomnia’, and ‘OCD’ as daily words. It reduces
the seriousness of the mental illness. You can become the person who makes others feel included.
