Stigma and Mental Health

So many times I still see and hear about the stigma with mental health issues.  How many times must we hear that “it’s not real” or that people with mental illness could “just get over it” or that they “should just move on with their lives”. How many times do we need to hear this? I’m tired of misperceptions and the stigma associated with mental illness and receiving mental health treatment. It’s time to clarify some things.

Would we tell someone with diabetes that they don’t really need their insulin? Would we tell someone with cancer that they don’t really need treatment? Would we tell someone that wears glasses that they don’t really need their glasses if they just tried harder to see? Of course not! So why do we do this with mental health issues like anxiety and depression? It’s okay to need help and get treatment, just like it’s okay to need eyeglasses if you can’t see or medication if you are sick.

Let’s get real with some facts.  1 in 5 adults in America experience a mental illness. That’s 20 percent!  If you are struggling with a mental illness, you are not alone!  If you have a friend or family member struggling with a mental illness, they are not alone. Let’s stop the stigma one person at a time. I’ll start:

I go to a doctor when I’m sick. I take medication when I need to. I wear eyeglasses because I need them. I’ve received mental health treatment from a counselor. It’s okay to need medical help and it’s okay to need help with our mental health. Let's break down the stigma together.


Thanks for reading!
-Rondale

https://www.nami.org/NAMI/media/NAMI-Media/Infographics/GeneralMHFacts.pdf