For several decades, there was a significant stigma associated with mental health. People were afraid to admit they were struggling with mental health disorders or had symptoms of mental health issues, let alone receive help for mental health problems. In many cultures, this remains prevalent today. However, breaking the stigma of mental health is essential to encourage people to get the help they truly need.
Without educating yourself, you won’t know what symptoms to look for in yourself or in a loved one. Without communicating the information you have learned, you won’t encourage open discussions about good mental health, and without supporting those around you, they may not find Opportunities to get the treatment they truly need.
Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health with Education
Breaking the stigma of mental health starts with education. Several myths perpetuate the lack of treatment, things like ‘children can’t get depression’ or ‘anxiety isn’t real.’
When these myths continue to be articulated, individuals struggling with symptoms of mental health disorders may find it difficult to get help for fear of being stigmatized, ridiculed, or told it’s all in their heads.
Education can help everyone better understand things like:
- What mental health looks like, the good and the bad
- The symptoms of different mental health disorders
- What types of treatment exist
- How much of mental health treatment is covered by insurance
- Who can be affected
- Why treatment is important
- What complications can happen without treatment
Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health with Communication
Another way to break the stigma of mental health is to communicate with those around you. It doesn’t matter if you’re aware that someone has a mental health disorder; finding ways to openly talk about the information that you have learned or debunking myths you have read can be a crucial step in offering support for those who might not even realize they need help.
Anytime issues related to self-care, finding time for breaks, relaxation, or personal struggles come up in conversation, don’t be afraid to openly discuss things like mental health disorders and how important it is for people struggling to know that they have support from friends and family and they can get treatment.
How to Break the Stigma of Mental Health with Support
In 2020 only twenty percent of people with a mental health disorder received any form of treatment. This means eighty percent of people struggling with things like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, or personality disorders are not getting any help.
Breaking the stigma of mental health requires involvement from everyone, not just people who are struggling but people who know someone with mental health disorders. Friends and family can serve as essential influences and encourage people to openly discuss their symptoms or conditions and get help.
Support comes in many forms. For some people, it might include just listening to them, letting your friend or family member know that you are a trusted individual with whom they can communicate their feelings and their struggles. Other forms of support include:
- Helping friends or family access mental health services
- Help friends or family learn self-care and coping techniques
- Sharing facts about mental health that you have learned
- Treating them no differently
- Using person-first language
Working with Treatment Centers
Another way that you can break the stigma of mental health is to receive education or services from reputable mental health treatment centers.
With Water Gap Wellness Center, you can find several forms of comprehensive mental health treatment for yourself or someone close to you. If you have a friend or family struggling with mental health disorders, don’t be afraid to reach out to our team and talk about the types of services we provide, or direct those closest to you to our care team for more information and support.
Treatment centers can provide information about different types of mental health disorders, what they look like, what factors can contribute to their development, and what treatment is recommended. Information like this can be communicated to those closest to you or used by yourself to receive the right level of support.
Reach out to Water Gap Wellness Center to learn more about common mental health myths and how to get help when needed.
