The stigma of mental health
Mental health is a growing issue that is being affected by many individuals and communities today. Although the issue is known, there is also the question of how to address this issue. We must first ask ourselves do we really know what mental health really is and how can we change our attitudes towards it?
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life from childhood and adolescense through adulthood, according to mentalhealth.gov.
The most common myths that are out there especially in the black community is the idea that “mental health problems doesn’t affect me”, or that “there is no hope for people with mental health problems.” The fact are that
- One in five American adults experienced a mental health issue
- Even young children can experience mental health problems
- Mental health has nothing to do with being lazy or weak.
Mental health disorders are a wide range of conditions that affect mood, thinking, and behavior, such as
- depression
- bipolar
- anxiety
- OCD,
- Dementia etc.
Communities that seem to be the most affected by mental health problems and have the most problems with awareness are areas of low income families, less education and those without proper health care, including minorities such as the black community which are twice as likely to be diagnosed with a mental illness than white people.
I think we have a horrible mental health. It seems like we suffer from a lack of self love and dont have a sense of community with one another. We are all struggling to be and look and act and live a certain way and it is killing us inside,” said Kechan Bailey, Senior and English major.
Why the stigma?
The stigmas associated with mental health or having a mental health disorder is that people assume that you are “crazy” and that the disorder defines who you are as a person. That because you chose to come out about it that you are unstable, or weakminded. The ideaology that religion and spirituality plays a significant role in healing of a mental health disorer also plays a factor of how indiviuals communicate to others with a psychological health problem such as depression.
A save space.
Creating a safe space is the first step to talking about mental health. Being able to create the social environment for those to feel comfortable and open about their behavior, experiences and thoughts are important to providing awareness and changing the attitudes that are negative towards this topic. Being open, and effective communicator and non-judgemental are also key elements to creating this safe space. Take the first step and become and ally to someone who is willing to talk about the issue and become and informed individual within your community.
Attitude is Everything
Your attitude towards mental health and being able to think of it in a positive rather the negative is key to getting others to talk about a serious topic. If you only talk about the negatives assoicated with mental health people will only continue to maintain the negative stigma and no one will know the postiives when it comes to mental health.
Positive mental health allows people to:
- Realize their full potential
- Cope with the stresses of life
- Work productively
- Make meaningful contributions to their communities
Encourage people to seek professional help if they need it, stay positive, help others, and find effective coping mechanisms to maintain positive mental health.
Get others talking by not being afraid to talk about something.