Breaking the Stigma: The Importance of Mental Health Awareness

Understanding Mental Illness

The best way to start understanding mental health awareness is to have a clear definition of what mental illness is. Mental illness is a physical affliction of the brain that impacts behavior, mood, thinking, and emotion and can affect day-to-day functioning. 

Anxiety disorders are extremely common in adults and can manifest as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. Mood disorders like depression and bipolar disorder are also very common.

Why Is There Stigma Associated With Mental Illness?

Historically, people with mental illness have been unfairly viewed as inherently dangerous or even cursed. The American institutional model of care, which involved locking people with all manner of mental illnesses, from depression to schizophrenia, away in asylums, only reinforced the myth that those with mental illnesses were dangerous. We are still fighting against these centuries-old biases today.

Another factor that leads to stigmas around mental illness is simple ignorance. The less a person knows about an issue — in this case, an extremely complex issue — the more inclined they are to feel threatened by it and, therefore, want to distance themselves from it. The adage “out of sight, out of mind” seems to be how many people see mental health conditions today.

Stigmas don’t only affect the people who have mental illness; they can negatively impact the friends, family, and caretakers of people with mental illness. Because of the stigmas around mental illness that persist today, only half of those dealing with mental illness receive treatment for it. 

The dangers of untreated mental illness are quite serious: underperforming at work and school, fewer options for employment, and an increased risk of suicide. We need to break these stigmas and educate the population so that those suffering from mental illness can seek the treatment they need with dignity and respect.

Why Is Mental Health Awareness So Important?

With so many people around the world dealing with mental illness every day, it is important to recognize how mental health impacts the lives of those suffering, their caregivers, and our communities. 

By increasing awareness of mental illness in our communities and just how many people are silently dealing with it, we can reduce misconceptions and stigmas. If people feel more comfortable seeking treatment, we will lower the suicide rate and help people with mental illnesses recover and be able to lead the lives they want.

What Can I Do to Increase Mental Health Awareness?

There are several ways to increase mental health awareness in your community. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which was established in 1940 to educate, raise awareness, reduce stigma, and celebrate recovery, so participating in Mental Health Awareness Month is a great way to start! You can also contribute in the following ways.

Speak Up About Mental Illness

If you feel comfortable talking about your mental illness or that of someone in your family, share your story with those around you. The more people discuss mental illness, the less fearful people will be about the subject.

Volunteer at Mental Health Fundraising, Outreach, and Awareness Events

Creating awareness in communities that might not otherwise have access to educational materials is one of the most important features of mental health awareness. Events like the Insights Art Show benefiting the patients at Austin State Hospital help get the word out and normalize talking openly about mental illness.

Connect Advocates

Networking events are great for connecting mental health advocates. The more advocates can get together and discuss mental health, the better access to treatment they can achieve for patients. 

Show Kindness and Empathy to Those Who Are Struggling

The first and most impactful thing any individual can do to improve mental health awareness is to treat anyone suffering from a mental health condition with understanding and kindness. In fact, treating all people with empathy and kindness would go a long way toward improving mental health awareness because so many are suffering in silence. 

Your neighbor, your best friend, or the cheerful barista at your coffee shop could all be having their own private battle with mental illness; a little kindness goes a long way.

Continue Learning About Mental Illness and Speaking About It

Having frank conversations with friends and family about mental illness while learning about it is an important aspect of mental health awareness. Mental health is an ever-evolving field that is constantly making discoveries and dealing with new challenges. For example, the rise of social media over the past two decades has impacted the mental health of a huge number of people but it can also benefit the cause of mental health awareness as a tool to connect advocates and get the message out there. 

Becoming an Advocate for Mental Health Awareness

By helping your friends and family get more comfortable discussing mental illness, you are raising awareness and breaking the stigma around mental illness at the same time. Recognition and continuing education are vital to the ongoing battle against stigmas about mental illness.

What people should understand is that mental illness is something that millions of people deal with every day; even though it’s a challenge, it’s a part of everyday life for many people, and everyone deserves respect and empathy. With more mental health awareness, we can get more people the help that they need and help them go on to live happy, fulfilling lives.

To learn more about Friends of ASH and how you can get involved in destigmatizing mental To learn more about ASH Volunteers and how you can get involved in destigmatizing mental illness, contact us.