Stigma of Mental Illness

May is mental health awareness month so it seems to be like a good time to talk about reducing the stigma of mental illness. Often times people are afraid to let others know that they are struggling with their mental health. Maybe you feel depressed but think that the only acceptable outward expression of a mood state is to smile or proclaim your strength and happiness to others. Maybe you worry excessively and assume the worst is going to happen. Perhaps you suffer from nightmares or flashbacks to a traumatic event in your life. Sometimes you may hear voices that others don't seem to hear. At times you may feel that you have an excessive amount of energy and think you can conquer the world. Or maybe you are impulsive and engage in reckless behavior. It could be a drug or alcohol problem that you are afraid to admit to anyone for fear that you will be judged.

The problem with the stigma of mental illness is that it prevents people from reaching out and getting the help that they need. Your brain is just as important as any other part of your body and it deserves the same amount of care that you would give to a cancer patient. Your wellness matters. Your healing matters. And it is possible. You are not alone in your symptoms, there are many, many people who struggle with mental health illness. It is up to each of us to embrace our own imperfections and join hands to support one another. You can make a difference by being conscious of the language that you use -- instead of saying that "depressed person", you can say "that person struggles with depression." Instead of saying "she is a schizophrenic" you can say "she suffers from schizophrenia." We can create a safe place for people to talk openly about their illness and we can be a voice of encouragement. We can direct people to get professional treatment and we can support them along the way.

Having self-awareness of how your perceptions and biases influence the world around you is the first step in making a change in a positive direction. As a community, we can challenge the negative patterns that exist and create new pathways so that others feel empowered to find the healing that they deserve.