Overcoming the Stigma Around Mental Health Treatment
In the last decade, there has been a growing movement to erase the stigma associated with getting treatment for mental health. Despite all the amazing work being done to destigmatize therapy and talk about mental health, we still live in a world where most people don't feel comfortable talking about their mental health. Even advocates of treatment for other people may struggle to embrace vulnerability and talk about their own mental health needs.
Research reveals that more than half of the people that have mental illnesses never seek treatment. Given the way our culture treats mental health, this isn't surprising—it just takes one person saying, "You should be able to control that on your own" or, “maybe you’re not praying hard enough” to make you feel like an outsider. It may even be your own internal narrative that shouts a resounding “It’s not okay for you to need help.” Many people don't seek treatment because they fear their friends and families will look down upon them. While there is some truth to that—there's a lot of cultural pressure always to appear strong, happy, and successful—to understand the stigma of mental illness and work towards eradicating it, we have to look at where it came from and how it has transformed throughout the years.
Before you begin, remember that our professionals are always here to help
What is the Stigma About Mental Health Treatment?
Stigma refers to a collection of harmful and unjust attitudes that a community or a particular group of individuals holds about a particular subject. In the case of mental health, the stigma is long-lasting and deeply seated. There was a time when you did not discuss mental illness openly. This attitude can be traced back to the 1700s when "insane asylums" were opened. The general public shamed people with mental illnesses, placing them in asylums, where many patients experienced mistreatment. The goal was not to treat the patients' conditions but to keep them away from society. Over the years, we saw the birth of the modern mental hospital, which aims toward treatment and restoration to a healthy life, but unfortunately, the stigma didn't completely disappear.
The stigma of mental health treatment can be very harmful. People with mental illness often get labeled as weak, dangerous, or violent on one end of the spectrum, or are often told to "just get over" whatever they are going through. They also usually receive a lack of support from loved ones. This type of negative attitude brings on feelings of shame, distress, lowered self-esteem, and self-blame. The result is that most will never seek the necessary treatment for their illnesses.
How Has the Stigma Changed Over the Years?
The overhaul of the mental hospitals was a start at breaking the stigma. People were now seen as deserving of treatment versus being locked away from the public due to shame. Over the years, statistics have shown that the stigma has weakened for some mental illnesses but not so much for others. People have begun to see mental illness as a chemical issue in the brain or a genetic malfunction more than a result of a poor upbringing or bad character. A more progressive attitude exists among Millennials and Gen Zs, which has made it a bit more socially acceptable to have a mental illness.
If you are an avid social media user, you will notice that it is not as taboo to discuss mental health issues publicly. More people are open to discussing their experiences with mental illness and treatment. There has been a substantial push for people to seek therapy or other treatment when necessary. There are now apps for therapy, therapists that share their knowledge for free on social media, and open discussions about mental health.
Here are some statistics that highlight the change in public opinion from 2017 to 2019:
More people feel comfortable talking with someone about their mental illness (66% to 71%)
More people say they would tell friends if they had a mental illness (34% to 41%)
Fewer people say they would be reluctant to seek help (50% to 46%)
Ways to Break the Stigma and the Benefits of Doing So
Here at LunaJoy, we want to do our part to break the stigma and encourage everyone to do the same. Here are some ways we can all work together to make this happen:
Talk openly about mental health, such as sharing your real or lived experiences on social media.
Educate yourself and others – respond to misperceptions or negative comments by sharing facts and experiences.
Be conscious of language – remind people that words matter. Person-first language (i.e. “person with a substance use disorder” vs. “addict”) keeps us from demonizing people, and reminding us that they’re dealing with challenges the same as any of us.
Encourage equality between physical and mental illness – draw comparisons to how we would treat someone with cancer or diabetes.
Show compassion for those with mental illness.
Be honest about treatment – normalize mental health treatment, just like other health care treatment.
Let the media know when they are using stigmatizing language or presenting stories of mental illness in a stigmatizing way.
Choose empowerment over shame - "I fight stigma by choosing to live an empowered life. To me, that means owning my life and my story and refusing to allow others to dictate how I view myself or how I feel about myself." – Val Fletcher, responding on Facebook to the question, How do you fight stigma?
Breaking this stigma is extremely important because it's estimated that 1 in 5 adults in the USA is affected by mental health problems yearly. And also, mental health conditions can become life-threatening situations without treatment. There should be no barriers to healing.
Why You Should Seek Therapy
Therapy is a wonderful tool to help improve the symptoms of mental health conditions, but that isn't the only benefit. Therapy can also assist you in dealing with common life challenges such as family issues, grief, relocation, stress, and more. Regular sessions allow you to learn more about your feelings and how to cope with them. The benefits are endless. If you are looking for a therapist, LunaJoy is here to get on the path to a more fulfilling life. Contact us to schedule your first appointment.
