Introduction
Mental health stigma is the discrimination and misunderstanding of mental illness. This has been a prevalent issue not only in today’s society but throughout history.
Mental health stigma is distracting others from seeking help, can create feelings of shame, and can lead to more detrimental effects on life. And while the stigma isn’t new, it’s getting worse.
In the last 30 years, rates of mental illness have increased by approximately 53%. And yet only 1 in 10 people with a diagnosable mental disorder will seek treatment.
We know that most people who need help don’t get it or have no access to medication such as top-rated memory pills. We also know that early intervention leads to better outcomes for those with depression and anxiety disorders.
Luckily, there are ways to fight this stigma head-on and make the world a more understanding place for those battling mental illness.
6 Ways To Fight Mental Health Stigma
Mental health stigma has several adverse effects, not just on the person who is battling mental health issues, but for those immediately close to them too, such as family, friends, and colleagues.
It creates feelings of shame and embarrassment that prevent people from seeking help. People with mental illness are often reluctant to go to their doctors because they fear being judged for their symptoms or behaviors.
Here are 6 ways to combat mental health stigmas as suggested by Health Web Magazine.
1. Talk about it openly and honestly –
One way to combat mental health stigma is to talk about it openly and honestly. If you’re struggling with depression, for example, and someone asks how you’re doing, don’t be afraid to tell them.
Youthful Brain reviews say you can also take the time to share your story on social media or write about it in a blog post. The more people talk about their struggles with mental illness, the less shame there will be associated with it. And when we speak out about our struggles, others are more likely to come forward too.
2. Seek out assistance for yourself or a close one –
You can help reduce the stigma by seeking treatment for yourself or a loved one.
It’s important to understand that mental illness isn’t the same as someone being crazy or out of control. Those who suffer from mental illness are not bad people and deserve compassion, understanding, and help.
3. Be an advocate for the mentally ill –
The first step to fighting mental health stigma is to be an advocate for the mentally ill. It can be difficult to speak openly about mental illness. However, you can make a difference by speaking up and sharing your story. This will show others that it’s okay to talk about mental illnesses, addictions, or reliance on medication and help them feel less alone in their struggle.
4. Listen when someone shares their story with you –
Health Web Magazine advises it is crucially important to listen when someone shares their story. It’s the only way to learn about their experience and how they are managing it. Mental health stigma is so prevalent that people may not want to talk about it, but you should never assume that they don’t want to share their story with you.
5. Educate yourself on mental illness –
According to Youthful Brain reviews, one way to fight mental health stigma is by educating yourself. It’s important to understand that mental illness isn’t a character flaw or personality defect but rather an illness like any other. It may be helpful for you to know the facts about mental health. Mental illness is not a choice.
There are so many reasons why a person can have a mental disorder, including genetics and environmental factors like childhood trauma or adult abuse.
Mental illnesses don’t discriminate on age, gender, race, religion – anyone can have one. Approximations are that 1 in 4 adults will, unfortunately, experience some form of mental disorder at some point in their lifetime.
6. Support those who are suffering from mental disorders –
The first way to fight mental health stigma is to support those who are suffering from mental disorders.
Be supportive of those who are struggling by encouraging them to seek help, not judging them for what they go through, and listening when they need someone to talk with.
Showing your loved ones that you care can be life-changing for them.
Conclusion
Stigma is something that can be shown either in obvious or subtle ways.
Recognizing it first is essential, so you know what to do next and how to limit the impact on yourself and those immediately around you. If it’s impacting you, name it, speak truthfully about your mental health condition, do not let stigma keep your illness a secret. Find supportive people who understand where you’re coming from as well as work on bettering your mental health with them by taking steps towards recovery like engaging in therapy for example.
Engaging with one’s mental fitness doesn’t mean being fragile; instead, building their confidence when they take care of themselves and get support from understanding friends and top-rated memory pills, which will allow them to succeed intensely, no matter what stage of life they are currently at!
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