Have you ever spoken with someone about their mental health? Or someone who admits to having a mental illness?
What was your reaction?
Studies have shown that the American public at large is getting a lot more open about mental illness. A whopping 87% of adults agree that “having a mental disorder is nothing to be ashamed of. 86% of people saying that people with mental disorders can get better.
So what’s the stigma?
Stigmas Of Mental Health, Old And New
More and more people are opening up to the idea of mental illness being something to accept in society. However, the very existence of this new openness creates more problems.
The old stigma – which is still prevalent today – states that people with mental health disorders are of less value. This stigma claims that people without mental illness treat poorly those who do have it.
The new stigma is that many people believe that if someone claims to have a mental illness – they’re making it up.
Both stigmas are wrong.
Here’s why:
In the case of the first stigma:
Mental illness is stigmatized to be something to fear, something to hate, and an outcast. People who stigmatize in this way might claim that a mentally ill individual should get help. That doesn’t mean they want to help them, they want them out of sight!
This second and newer stigma lies largely with the younger generation, but it permeates the generations before it as well.
The belief is that some people who do not have mental illness, claim to. They do this so that they don’t have to toughen up, and to be coddled into their adult years. This is the power of claiming to have a disorder.
The stigma is heightened because there really is no way to prove that they don’t have what they claim to – even if they are checked by a doctor, this hardly matters.
Thing’s like chronic stress, anxiety, and bi-polar disorder are among the ones blamed for being “fake”.
People who don’t claim to have a mental illness are annoyed because what they think is happening is others getting special treatment because they are “choosing to be weak” and get special treatment for it.
Of course, these both are wrong for many reasons, but that’s not the point I want to go into.
What I want to talk about is: how are we to respond to these stigmas? What must be done about them to address the problem rightly and, at the same time, help those who have mental illnesses?
Speak From The Chest, Be Honest And Open
If you are not a professional, yet notice the side effects of mental illness, the best thing to do is to bring your concerns to the person in a kind, private way, and connect them with a real professional.
It’s still not a good idea to bring this to their or anyone else’s attention if you notice that someone is outwardly speaking about their mental illness(es), and yet function as if they did not have such restraints. The reason is that you don’t actually know if that person is lying, and if they are it’s no one’s business but the person in question. Some people find the uncertainty annoying, but these people are looking outward toward judging others rather than focusing on maintaining their own selves.
The truth is: tons of people have mental health issues – undiagnosed or otherwise. It’s an immediate issue the whole world is trying hard to address. Focusing on being helpful in the solution – to be there for people and get them to a place where they can find help – that’s the best any of us can do!
Prioritizing self-compassion and recognizing the value of seeking professional help when needed are central tenets of this approach. By embracing these principles, individuals can navigate the complexities of mental health challenges with empathy, ultimately contributing to overall well-being.
This is an opinionated article I wrote based on the research I’ve seen and what I’ve seen just in life. If you have questions or comments please let me know in the comment section!