Destigmatizing Mental Health
Mental illness affects one in five American adults each year. Unfortunately, half of the people who need mental health support aren’t getting it because of the stigma associated with mental illness and therapy. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, we are given an opportunity to have these important conversations, ask questions, educate ourselves, and support those struggling with mental health. Mental Health Awareness Month provides a reminder that mental health is essential and that those living with mental health issues are deserving of care, understanding, compassion, and pathways to hope, healing, and recovery. By speaking about counseling, we can humanize it, and destigmatize mental health.
What is Mental Health Stigma?
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), stigma happens when people are negatively viewed for having a specific characteristic – whether that’s mental, physical, or otherwise. Mental health is often stigmatized because of a lack of understanding about what mental health conditions are and what it’s like to live with a mental health condition.
People with mental illness face stigma by being treated differently. They can be made to feel ashamed or worthless, as if they are somehow less than others. Moreover, they may become labeled by their illness, and thus, become vulnerable to prejudice and discrimination.
Examples of mental health stigma may include:
Making jokes about mental health or certain mental health conditions.
Avoiding people with certain mental health conditions.
Viewing examples of neurodivergence as illnesses or something to be cured.
Calling someone living with a mental health condition ‘lazy’, ‘dangerous’, ‘violent’, or ‘crazy’.
Ways to Fight Mental Health Stigma
Educate yourself and others.
Learn what mental health conditions look like and who they may affect. This can help reduce some of the fear, judgment, and misunderstanding around mental health. You can develop understanding and compassion for yourself and educate others.
Talk about mental health openly and without shame.
Too often, people suffering from mental illness are afraid to seek help because they fear judgment or rejection. Having conversations about mental health can break down the barriers that prevent people from getting the help they need. It will also encourage more people to come forward and seek treatment.
Share your story.
The more mental illness remains hidden, the more people think it must be something to be ashamed of. One of the most powerful tools for reducing stigma is to share your story with mental health. Sharing your story with mental health can have a positive impact that connects people to each other.
Normalize therapy.
Talking about therapy just as people talk about their physical health appointments can greatly help reduce the stigma and normalize seeking help. Just as people go to the doctor for physical ailments, it's important to seek help from a mental health professional when struggling with mental health challenges.
Challenge negative stereotypes and assumptions about mental illness.
Speak up when you see or hear someone making negative comments about mental illness. Be mindful of the language you use when describing yourself or others. Avoid words that define a person by their condition. For example, instead of saying “I am bipolar,” say “I have bipolar disorder” or “I live with bipolar disorder.”
Destigmatizing mental health requires a concerted effort by individuals, communities, and society at large. By working together to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, we can create a culture that helps people access the support and care they need.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health issue, please know that you are not alone. Don’t be afraid to reach out for support as our therapists at Be You are here for you.
Lexi Haft
