Ending the Stigma Around Mental Illness
More than half of people who struggle with a mental health condition never receive the help they often desperately need. It’s an alarming statistic that persists throughout most of our country.
In Mississippi, this number remains high for several reasons. As a psychiatrist who has spent my entire career in the state, one of the biggest barriers I have encountered — and continue to fight — is the significant stigma that surrounds mental illness.
For many Mississippians, the idea of talking about mental issues is simply not done. Instead, in our families, towns and cultures, a show of strength is emphasized over a show of emotion. Therapy and treatment are not trusted or understood. And mental health is not prioritized in the same way as physical health.
The result is a vicious cycle of struggles that will only break with intentional action. If you want to be part of ending the stigma, you can start with yourself and your immediate circle.
Educate yourself. One reason the stigma around mental illness remains is that so many of us do not understand what illness is, what it is not, and what it really means to seek help via therapy and medication. If you fall into the category, spend some time reading about the prevalence of mental illness in our society. Learn more about what it’s like to go to therapy. And find out more about how normalizing mental health and wellness will help to improve so many other issues we have in society.
Talk about mental illness. One of the best things you can do to break the stigma around mental health is to talk about it in the same way you talk about physical health. Frame mental health as treatable and normal, rather than something people should be ashamed of.
Oftentimes, this conversation begins at home. If your child has questions, try and provide context for mental health. For example, if they see a news story involving an individual with depression, use it as an opportunity to explain what depression is, how it can affect people and how it can be treated.
As your children get older, share some of your struggles with mental health when appropriate. According to a 2020 national survey by Hopelab and Well Being Trust, stories of real experiences are something teenagers often seek out. In fact, three in four young teens seeking information online about depression said they were looking for personal anecdotes from people who had suffered in the past. Sharing your story can help provide context for your child or others who are searching for someone to relate to.
Prioritize your own mental health. Breaking the stigma around mental health is not something done through conversation alone. It takes action and that means seeking out help and support when you need it. Not only will this make you a happy and healthier person, but it will also illustrate to those around you how normal it is, should you choose to share that information with family or friends.
Be mindful of word choice. We are all guilty of flippantly using terms like “crazy,” “psycho” and “mental problems” to describe an individual or situation that we don’t understand or that bothers us. But when an ingrained mental health stigma already exists these words only perpetuate that mindset. This is especially true around younger individuals.
Make mental health an election issue. To truly see change around mental health, it must be a priority at all levels of government. That means understanding where your elected officials stand on issues related to mental health, including community funding for mental health support, and using that information to determine how you will vote.