Changes We’ve Seen In Mental Health Awareness Today

The awareness, outreach, and dynamics of mental health have evolved drastically since the beginning. The reasons for this could be so many- the growing popularity of psychology majors in college, social media, more research conducted in the field, and pop culture influences. Every day, as you scroll through your Instagram feed, you are bound to come across at least one post or story based on mental health or well-being in general. These newer times have set trends and unsaid rules in these areas that are changing mindsets for the better.

Creation of better awareness:

All of us would’ve come across at least one post that began with ‘According to Psychology..’, followed by a statement with no scientific backing or proof. And as naive youngsters, we would’ve blindly believed them too. However, with changing times, we’ve witnessed mental health activists and influencers correcting these beliefs we may have acquired, busting myths and misconceptions on the subject, and aiming to remove stereotypes and stigmas. The importance of getting facts right in Psychology has been stressed upon, as, at the end of the day, it is also a science. A rather sensitive one in fact. It is crucial that media houses, movies, and other forms of pop culture also cross-check their facts before presenting them to the public. For example, right after the sad demise of the Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, there were so many wrong conceptions on mental health going around television channels as well as social media. Depression, bipolar disorder, and suicide were portrayed, in the wrong light; citing statements that aren’t facts. Similarly, there are so many movies that portray those suffering from mental disorders as ‘mad’ or those who should be avoided. Television channels and movies hold a huge responsibility in this aspect as people watching them can blindly believe these statements, without bothering to cross-check. A safer, sensitive, and reliable space has to be created for mental health in our society and it is indeed pleasing to see that with days passing, we are moving closer to that goal, with people worldwide taking steps to create better awareness.

Destigmatization: 

If someone told me 10 years ago that they were going through depression, I probably would react with shock and cautiousness. Stigmas tend to make people view topics from a negative angle and often leads to discrimination and unintentional harm to certain people. It can lead to those being discriminated against experiencing bullying, loneliness, and humiliation. They face rejection from friends and family, experience a drop in self-esteem, and often find it hard to get jobs and similar opportunities due to their condition. They also back out from getting professional help out of the fear of being rejected by society. According to an article by the American Psychological Association,  out of the 28 million people needing treatment for drug or alcohol issues in 2013, less than 1 in 10 got help.

While we still are far from a completely stigma-free world, present times have played a major role in decreasing the stigma attached to mental health disorders. We are unlearning and relearning so many elements of mental health and well-being in our day to day lives. Not only are people more aware of such disorders but steps are being taken to get diagnosed. The hesitation to seek professional help and talk about what they are going through has decreased, with influencers and celebrities coming out with stories of their personal journeys battling depression, anxiety, and similar conditions. According to WHO, around 264 million people worldwide have depression. While some may attribute this high number to the stressful lifestyle patterns people are experiencing in today’s time, this also means that more and more people are getting diagnosed and seeking help for the same, normalizing the concept of psychotherapy. Support groups and discussion platforms are emerging to create a healthy dialogue on mental health and well-being. While the progress may be gradual, people are actively taking steps at educating themselves and those around them and that definitely is progress in the right direction.

 The growing importance of self-love and self-care:

Over the past few years, people all around have been emphasizing the importance of self-love and self-care. In order to be fully at peace mentally, emotionally, and physically, accepting yourself and learning to care for yourself is extremely important. Many believe that in order to build and maintain healthy interpersonal relationships, one must first develop a loving relationship with oneself; that one cannot provide for others without first providing for yourself. Self-care involves attempting to create a healthier and happier lifestyle for oneself by eating right, getting exercise, and indulging in activities that bring happiness. Practicing self-care can take different forms for different people: napping, journaling, watching their favourite tv show, having a nice long shower, catching up on some reading, or working out. Self-care has been shown to be an important aspect of stress-management. It builds your health and immunity and gives you the energy to be more active and productive. Working on accepting and loving yourself helps build your self-esteem, confidence, and helps you get to know yourself better. You allow yourself to introspect and get to know your passions and interests better. With this knowledge, you would be able to know what you want and prioritize those things, making your days more purposeful.

These growing trends in the field of mental health have definitely benefited the younger generations. Let’s hope that with the coming times, we get to witness the complete normalization of mental disorders, learn to be more accepting, and create better safer mental health spaces.

References:

Lu, S. (2016, July). Destigmatizing mental illness needs a national push, report says. Monitor on Psychology, 47(7). http://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/07-08/upfront-destigmatizing

Depression. (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2020, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression