Woman staring out the window during a lockdown
The stigma surrounding mental health has lessened as more and more people begin to talk openly about their experiences. Everyone can work together to create a society that is accepting of others. If you would like to help fight the societal stigma surrounding mental health issues, the following suggestions can help you get started.
#1. Talk Openly About Your Experiences
One way to help fight stigma is to simply talk about your experiences. So often, people fear things because they do not understand them; to some people, mental health issues are frightening because they don’t know much about them.
When you talk about your challenges and experiences with mental health issues, it helps others see that you are just like them. Many people struggle with mental health issues at one time or another; everyone is far more alike than many realize.
#2. Educate Yourself and Others
Education can be powerful. When you take time to educate yourself, then you have the opportunity to educate others.
Sometimes stereotypes get spread, and due to the widespread nature of the misinformation, people do not even realize that the misinformation is not factual. We can all combat misinformation by educating ourselves and respectfully correcting others when we come across information that is simply untrue.
#3. Encourage Equality Between Physical and Mental Health
So often, people place physical health in a different category than mental health. Encourage people to seek help for both physical and mental health challenges.
Most people do not think twice about seeking help when they have something physically wrong. However, when it is a mental issue, many people find themselves hesitating.
#4. Choose Empowerment Over Shame
When you find the courage to feel empowered versus ashamed of your mental health struggles, it can help others see that they should also feel empowered and strong. This will help show others that you are a strong person and that mental health issues are nothing to be ashamed of.
The stigma surrounding mental health is very real and impacts many people every single day. Working towards fighting stigma is a task that anyone can help to take on. If you struggle with mental health issues, try to be open and honest about your struggles and journey. Teach others what having a mental health issue is like and that you are still a strong and capable person. Here at The Guest House, we are a group of professionals who work hard every day to help fight stigma and create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. If you are struggling with addiction or mental health issues, we are here to help. Call us today at (855) 483-7800.