Breaking the Structural Stigma of Mental Health Issues

Mental health is a topic everyone speaks about on a daily basis. It’s all about self-esteem, intellectuality, and how one behaves socially. It affects how they see themselves. It’s a determination of how they:

  • Handle anxiety
  • Relate to others
  • Make choices

Mental health is essential for everyone in every phase of life.

Mental health stigma refers to a state where one is viewed negatively because of their different traits or characteristics. It’s a disadvantage as people perceive those negatively suffering from mental health. People make negative remarks directly or indirectly to those who suffer from mental health. The following are some ways of breaking the stigma.

1. Treatment

Many fear getting treatment because they don’t want to admit they need it and will be labeled as suffering from mental health. The therapy provides satisfaction by establishing the problem, which decreases symptoms that intervene with everyday life.

2. Letting Go of Self-Doubt and Humiliation

Admitting that you’re suffering from mental health is a way of reducing stigma. Many believe that the condition portrays weakness and they can control it without help. It’s best to seek treatment, expound more on mental health and interact with those who suffer from it. It helps in gaining self-confidence and stops them from judging negatively.

3. Be More Interactive

Those who suffer from mental health are usually introverts and don’t like to talk about their feelings. But they should be extroverts and reach out to family, friends, or any trusted person to talk about their feelings. This helps in getting support, understanding, and empathy.

4. Be Part of Support Groups

Support groups educate those suffering from mental health to society, family, and friends by having programs. It creates awareness of what they should do when one suffers from mental health.

Let people be aware that they can always reach out to talk about how they feel. Don’t be judgmental because it can lead to worse things like suicide. Always listen to and help those who suffer from mental health in any way possible. Let’s break the stigma of mental health, create awareness, educate more on mental health, and never take it for granted.

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