Mental Health Shaming ~ Why is This Still a Thing?
3 Easy Steps to Help Break the Stigma
Down with the physically imperfect!
Steal the wheelchair.
Kick out the crutch.
Shun those with a physical deformity.
Said no one, ever.
***
Ridiculous thoughts and equally absurd actions, right?
People wouldn’t behave that way because it’s wrong. Plain and simple.
So, why aren’t people just as compassionate to those who suffer from mental illness?
Why isn’t it just as wrong to treat sufferers of brain disorders poorly and deny them basic respect and compassion? Different manifestations, different challenges, same love. Is this so hard?
Apparently.
Maybe it’s due to the unknowns with the invisible disease that it is.
I get that many people simply don’t get it. Too many.
We don’t have episodes of darkness, depression, rapid cycling, suicide ideations, or erratic mood swings. And, if we do not have first-hand knowledge of these struggles, should it translate to shaming those who live with those very debilitating challenges?
Everyone deserves the right to enjoy the same basic human rights, to the best of their ability, without judgment.
In the early years of my daughter’s life, I resorted to comparing her struggles to those of a diabetic requiring insulin. It, too, is an invisible ailment. We address medical conditions, period. Her medication was important in her care and I drew from her grandmother’s diabetes to soften the understanding. There should be no embarrassment, no shame, no need to hide the truths.
But, the discouraging fact is that there is shame, still going strong, even today.
There are still stigma attached and we need to change our thinking.
My daughter is now 25 and it seems like there hasn’t been much forward progress since we started our journey when she was 9 years old.
I get that many people simply don’t get it. Too many.
So, why don’t they?
As with any unknown, the more information we gather, the more likely we are to alleviate fears and myths. Let’s dig in and make this less scary. It’s time to get back to basics and break this down starting with simple definitions:
MENTAL:
The adjective mental describes anything having to do with the mind, just as “physical” has to do with the body. Mental has to do with the intellect, the mind, or the brain. vocabulary.com
MENTAL HEALTH:
Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. mentalhealth.gov
MENTAL ILLNESS:
any disease of the mind; the psychological state of someone who has emotional or behavioral problems serious enough to require psychiatric intervention. vocabulary.com
Easy enough to understand. However, I believe it’s all about the “emotional or behavioral problems.”
This seems to be the sticking point for people who turn their backs on understanding. They don’t want to be embarrassed by erratic behaviors or anything that isn’t considered socially acceptable.
There’s a word for that self-serving behavior: selfish.
Those with mental illnesses get rejected, bullied, and are vulnerable to discrimination. The lack of acceptance causes many to suffer silently and delay seeking help or intervention by an average of 8 to 10 years from the start of their symptoms. National Alliance on Mental Illness
Sadly, it’s no wonder that suicide ranks as the 10th leading cause of death in all Americans. National Alliance on Mental Illness
A funny thing happened when I was forced to learn about the various elements of mental illnesses.
I was no longer scared or embarrassed. I was armed with valid information and I became stronger, clearer, and less vulnerable. And when my daughter had suicidal ideations I was better equipped to deal with them and her, and seek unabashed immediate care. No shame in my game.
As soon as I crossed the hurdle of understanding that no one purposely exhibits outbursts or negative behaviors, my perspective changed. My daughter was born with different wiring. Not better or worse than the rest of the world, just different. And, we would learn different coping skills and approaches to society as a result.
In this same educational path to learning more about the actual neurological conditions my daughter was dealing with, I learned about the associated stigma.
I promote NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness often, for two reasons only. I am not affiliated with them other than having been a member in New Jersey. I have no investment, and my reward is simply one of showing others to the water I so freely drank from with great benefits.
They are approachable, welcoming, and speak my language. Nothing lofty or too far-reaching or clinical is how I learn best. And, I did. NAMI offers the real world, real experiences, and an understanding of the inexplicable.
I also believe in the organization and the variety of programs they offer sufferers, family, caretakers, and support people.
STIGMA:
Stigma is when someone, or even you yourself, views a person in a negative way just because they have a mental health condition. Some people describe stigma as a feeling of shame or judgment from someone else. Stigma can even come from an internal place, confusing feeling bad with being bad.
Navigating life with a mental health condition can be tough, and the isolation, blame, and secrecy that is often encouraged by stigma can create huge challenges to reaching out, getting needed support, and living well. Learning how to avoid and address stigma are important for all of us, especially when you realize stigma’s effects. NAMI.org
NAMI offers 3 Steps to Stigma Busting
Educate Yourself and Others
See the Person, Not the Condition
Take Action
- Educate Yourself and Others. We need to promote the facts and dispel myths, rumors, and speculations. Like every stereotype, the damage from a lack of understanding is far-reaching. Pour through the wealth of information offered on many accredited sites like NAMI.org. We all know at least one sufferer; start by looking into their diagnosis. When you discover they are not weak, crazy, or whackos but people with physiological, psychological, and neurological differences, you are one step closer. You don’t even need to leave your home ~ surf the web. You’ll find a lot of information at the ready.
- See the person, not the condition. Each person exhibits symptoms, behaviors, and manifests their diagnosis as the individuals they are. They are not their conditions and should no longer be defined as such. Learning factual information is only one step. Understand how the mental illness, or challenge, translates to an individual. This step is vital for everyone to achieve a higher level of compassion and support. I simply referred to this as learning my daughter’s ‘language.’
- Take Action. There are so many available avenues to take action. There's something for everyone. Push for better legislation. Openly show your support by using hashtags on social media, like #mentalhealth and #mentalhealthawareness. Desensationalize the mental health challenges and openly engage in communication about it. Gently stop people when they name call or use slurs about one with a mental illness. Support Mental Health by joining an organization or take part in one of the many fundraisers.
If you’d like to take action right here, right now, to be part of eradicating the stigma associated with mental illness, you can start by signing the NAMI.org pledge to be stigma-free by clicking HERE.
We no longer live in the dark ages when information was scant and differences were locked away. We have no excuses and as our world is evolving with the acceptance of all people, of all walks, are we remembering to include everyone with open hearts and open minds? Are you?
It’s time, isn’t it?
