According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one in five adults in the United States experiences mental health issues in a given year. That’s more than 43 million people! Despite these staggering numbers, there still is major stigma associated with mental illness.
People are often ashamed to talk about their mental health, and many suffer in silence. This needs to change.
Mental health is just as important as physical health, and we need to do everything we can to break the stigma associated with mental illness.
In this blog post, I will discuss why breaking the stigma is so important and what we can do to make a difference.
The Mental Illness Stigma
There are a number of reasons why there is a stigma around mental illness.
One major reason are the myths and misinformation that surround mental illness. For example, many people believe that mental illness is just an excuse to be lazy or to behave in an antisocial way. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Mental illness is a real, serious medical condition that should be treated with the same care and attention as any other illness.
Another reason for the stigma is that mental health is often seen as a sign of weakness. This couldn’t be further from the truth either! Mental illness can affect anyone, regardless of how strong or capable they are. Mental illness is not a choice, and it is not something that people can just “snap out of.”
There are also serious issues with the way that mental illness is portrayed in the media. Mental illness is often sensationalized, and the people who suffer from it are often portrayed as dangerous or unpredictable. This isn’t accurate or fair, and it only serves to further the taboo.
One need only think about the way that words such as “psychotic” or “schizophrenic” are bandied about to get a good idea of how pervasive the stigma around mental illness is. These words are used to describe people who are acting in unusual or strange ways, but they originated as medical terms used to describe people with actual mental illness. This only serves to further the idea that mental illness is something to be feared and ridiculed.
So why is it so important to break the stigma around mental illness?
Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a real, medical condition that should be treated with care and compassion. Mental illness is not a choice, and it can affect anyone, regardless of how strong or capable they are.
The stigma associated with mental health issues is a huge problem because it prevents people from getting the help they need. If people are afraid to talk about their mental health issues, they are less likely to seek out help. This can lead to a downward spiral of mental and physical health problems.
Breaking the stigma is important because it will help to create a more understanding and compassionate world for those who suffer from mental illness.
As things stand, many people are suffering, and in some cases they are even losing their lives, because they are too ashamed to reach out to mental health professionals.
Breaking the stigma will help to ensure that people who need help can get it.
What can we do to break the stigma?
There are a number of things that we can do to break the stigma around mental illness.
Educate yourself and others
One thing we can do is to educate ourselves and others about mental illness. It’s important to learn the facts about mental illness so that we can dispel the myths and misinformation that surround it.
We can also be more understanding and compassionate towards those who suffer from mental illness. It’s important to remember that mental illness is not a choice, and that people who suffer from it need our support, not our judgment.
Shine a light on mental health
We should also make it a point to talk openly about mental illness. We should normalize the conversation so that people feel more comfortable talking about their mental health.
This is why I am so open about the fact that I struggle with anxiety, and that I have been taking medication and going to therapy for years. I am proud of the fact that notwithstanding my condition, I still get up every day and face the challenges that life brings, and with the support of my doctors and therapists I am gradually getting better.
Carla Corelli
Support Mental Health Organizations
Finally, we can support organizations and initiatives that are working hard to support people who struggle with their mental health, and to break the stigma around mental illness.
There are many organizations, both nationally and internationally, that are working hard to break the stigma.
Some of these organizations are:
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
These are just a few of the organizations that are working hard to support people with mental illness and to break the stigma around it. It is likely that there are other NGOs that are active in your area. Find them and help them out – you could volunteer, or make a donation. Every little helps 🙂
Final thoughts on the mental illness stigma
Mental illness affects millions of people around the world, yet due to stigma and prejudice, those who suffer from it often feel ashamed or embarrassed to talk about their condition. This is especially true in our culture, where mental health issues are seen as a sign of weakness or instability. But the truth is, mental health problems can affect anyone.
If we all work together, we can make a difference. We can create a more understanding and supportive world for those who suffer from mental illness. We can make it easier for people to get the help they need, and we can save lives.
Breaking the stigma around mental illness is important, and we should all play a role in it.
Let’s make a commitment to do our part.