Breaking the Stigma of Mental Illness
May is Mental Health Month 2020, and we’re here to tell you more about the importance of breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness and the importance of counseling for mental health.
Please read on as we:
Seek to understand why mental illness has been stigmatized
Explore the benefits of seeing a therapist for mental health
Share the importance of counseling for individual, family, and community health
Why Is Mental Illness Stigmatized?
According to the Mayo Clinic, “stigma is when someone views you in a negative way because you have a distinguishing characteristic or personal trait that’s thought to be a disadvantage.”
Essentially, a stigma is a negative stereotype. This means that people with mental illness have been grouped into one large category, and some members of our society mistakenly assume that this large category of people can be unstable, violent, or even dangerous (Mayo Clinic).
There is also the incorrect assumption that people who experience mental illness are “making it up” or that conditions like depression and anxiety are “all in their head.” This assumption is incorrect and largely stems from the fact that we cannot physically see mental illness.
For instance, you can see that your colleague has broken her leg from a bad fall, but you cannot see that she now suffers mental trauma from that fall.
Mental illness affects us all. There is no shame in reaching out for help!
Stigmas surrounding mental illness are incredibly detrimental for many reasons, including the fact that they make individuals feel they should be able to “overcome” mental illness on their own.
Mental illness is not all in your head or yours alone to “conquer” or “vanquish.” No matter what challenges you are experiencing, there is help available.
Mental illness encompasses a broad spectrum of disorders, yet they are often represented in society in their most severe forms. This one-sided view leads to shame, fear, discrimination, and judgement, and it discourages people from seeking professional help.
In fact, 19% of the general population (one in five U.S. adults) experiences some form of mental illness. You can read more about the two broad categories of mental illness on our blog.
It’s important to note, too, that mental illness does not discriminate; it can affect anyone. Young, old, rich, poor, African American, caucasian, Asian, Latinx, LGBQT+, straight, etc. We are all susceptible to mental illness and are deserving of both treatment and respect.
Ultimately, it’s important to remember that, with proper therapy and sometimes pharmaceutical intervention, mental illnesses are treatable, and people facing them quite often recover and lead fulfilling, healthy lives. There is no need for stigma.
Benefits of Seeing a Therapist for Mental Health
If you have decided to seek treatment, know that: a mental health professional should never ever judge or stigmatize you. Therapists are here to help, not contribute to your problems or to minimize them.
Therapy is a judgement-free zone where you can bring your mental health concerns to the table, and your therapist will help you work through them in a patient, objective manner.
Some people who face mental illness are reluctant to seek therapy. This could be for myriad reasons, such as these:
Seeking therapy can strengthen your relationship with both yourself and others.
Reluctance to admit that help is needed
The fear of being labeled as mentally ill
The assumption that you should be able to “control” your illness on your own
The feeling that seeking help is a sign of weakness
All of these reasons stem from the stigmatization of mental illness. As a society, we have been conditioned to think that weakness is a sign of failure and that reaching out for help will put your failure on display to others.
However, seeking therapy is NOT a sign of weakness: it’s a sign of strength! By practicing self care in this way, you can actually strengthen your relationship with yourself and with others as you work to improve your own mental health.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “treatment can provide relief by identifying what’s wrong and reducing symptoms that interfere with your work and personal life.”
As you progress with therapy, you can find helpful coping strategies that will allow your mental health struggles to interfere with your daily life less and less.
The Importance of Counseling
Counseling is important for individual, family, and community health, as it “empowers people to live health and fulfilling lives” (Wake Forest University).
If we take control of our mental health by seeing a therapist to help address our problems and concerns, our healthy emotional lives will also influence those around us. Taking care of ourselves has a positive, trickle down effect on those we love and the communities in which we live.
Reach out if you, or someone you know, needs help.
If you know someone who is struggling with mental illness, or who is struggling simply to prioritize or maintain their mental health, please help to break the stigma and recommend counseling.
And, if you are the person in need, have compassion for yourself and reach out for help!
The importance of counseling cannot be overstated in terms of its benefits for mental health. If you are struggling, please reach out to the Atlanta Innovative Counseling Center.
We have many trained therapists who are ready to help you break the stigma and begin taking care of your emotional and mental health.