1 in 3 adults struggle with a mental health condition such as depression, anxiety, or stress, yet society treats mental health as taboo. People develop mental conditions for various reasons; some are genetic or biological, and other conditions could result from trauma or overwhelming stress at school, work, or home.
Unfortunately, society’s negative perception of mental health has caused some harmful effects. These include:
- Reluctance to seek help or treatment
- Lack of understanding by family, friends, co-workers or others
- Fewer opportunities for work, school or social activities or trouble finding housing
- Bullying, physical violence or harassment
- Health insurance that doesn’t adequately cover mental illness treatment
Here’s what you can do to overcome the mental health stigma:
1. Know the facts
Educate yourself about mental health to understand what it is and why it is essential. This also includes examining the judgmental thinking that your upbringing and society have reinforced.
2. Be conscious of the language you use
Language shapes perception, and mental health conditions have been thrown about for humour or to deride those coping with mental health conditions. Choosing the right words can encourage compassion and empathy instead of shame and derision.
3. Get treatment
Many fear being labelled with a mental condition, which may prevent them from seeking help. Treatment can provide relief by identifying what’s wrong and reducing symptoms that interfere with your work and personal life. Opening up about your treatment with others can also help them reassess their perception of mental health and give a licence for them to do the same.
4. Don’t isolate yourself
It’s not always easy to be vulnerable with people, especially those closest to you, when you struggle mentally. It is important not to isolate yourself and to reach out to people you can trust for the compassion, support and understanding you need. If your family and friends cannot lend the support you need, seeking professional help from a mental health professional could help you. And the reverse is also true – make it known that you are a safe space for others to come to should they need support. But do so only if you are prepared and capable of doing so.
5. Talk openly about mental health
The more you talk about it, the more you can. Normalising the conversation around mental health can help others feel more comfortable sharing their experiences. It can also help you gain perspective and overcome destructive self-judgements. Often, stigma stems from a lack of understanding rather than information based on facts. The only way to destigmatise mental health is to be brave enough to regularly have honest and open conversations about it. This can help others open up to overcome the stigma they may face.
Destigmatising mental health is possible, but it can only happen if people continue to challenge their social conditioning with facts, practice self-acceptance, and treat each other with empathy.
This article was brought to you by Naluri’s Mental Health Coaches. Naluri empowers you to develop healthy lifestyle habits, achieve meaningful health outcomes, and be healthier and happier through personalised coaching, structured programmes, self-guided lessons, and health tools and devices. Download the Naluri App today or contact hello@naluri.life for more information on utilising digital health coaching and therapy to become a happier, healthier you.