Mental illnesses are quite common. They affect 1 in 4 people (or 25%), which is more common than many people would like to believe. Yet there is a still stigma surrounding mental illness and mental health. Stigma is described as the negative view of a person because they have a mental illness. It is also described as a feeling of shame or judgement from others. This stigma can cause a person to blame themselves for something outside of their control, prevent them from getting the help they need, cause them to feel alone or to isolate themselves, and can even lead to discrimination. But there are things we can do to fight the stigma. The following list includes many of the ways you can help to erase the stigma around mental illness.
Talk about …show more content…
Since mental illness is a taboo subject, talking about it makes it more out there in the open and therefore makes it less taboo. Being silent about mental illness also stigmatizes it because it makes it seem like it's something to be ashamed of and something that you should hide. Being silent may also make it feel like not many people are affected by mental illness when many are. And by talk, I don't mean like at a conference, public event, etc. That's helpful too and feel free to do that if you want to. But what I mean by talk is to talk in your everyday life with the people you spend your time with, like your family, friends, and coworkers. Just talk openly about mental health. If you have a mental illness yourself, don't be afraid to share your story. Encourage others to share theirs as …show more content…
Be kind, caring, compassionate, and empathetic towards them. Treat them with dignity and respect. Support and encourage them in their recovery process. If they don't already, encourage them to see a therapist if it's necessary. Avoid using phrases like "get over it" or "just relax." These statements might be well-meaning, but aren't helpful. Instead ask them what you can do to help and be willing to just listen to them, judgement-free. See them for themselves and the person they are. Remember that they are not their mental illness and should not be defined by it. Their mental illness is only a small part of
Talk about …show more content…
Since mental illness is a taboo subject, talking about it makes it more out there in the open and therefore makes it less taboo. Being silent about mental illness also stigmatizes it because it makes it seem like it's something to be ashamed of and something that you should hide. Being silent may also make it feel like not many people are affected by mental illness when many are. And by talk, I don't mean like at a conference, public event, etc. That's helpful too and feel free to do that if you want to. But what I mean by talk is to talk in your everyday life with the people you spend your time with, like your family, friends, and coworkers. Just talk openly about mental health. If you have a mental illness yourself, don't be afraid to share your story. Encourage others to share theirs as …show more content…
Be kind, caring, compassionate, and empathetic towards them. Treat them with dignity and respect. Support and encourage them in their recovery process. If they don't already, encourage them to see a therapist if it's necessary. Avoid using phrases like "get over it" or "just relax." These statements might be well-meaning, but aren't helpful. Instead ask them what you can do to help and be willing to just listen to them, judgement-free. See them for themselves and the person they are. Remember that they are not their mental illness and should not be defined by it. Their mental illness is only a small part of