Sarah Hashmi
It is estimated by the World Bank that at least 10 percent of the world’s population is affected by mental health disorders and that 20 percent of children and adolescents suffer from some type of mental disorder.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that- one in four people in the world will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives.
Can you believe it? Mental health disorders are so common yet the most neglected. There is a need for awareness and treatment of mental illnesses.
Why are people so scared of mental illnesses? Why do they refrain from saying it out loud that they suffer from a certain mental illness as they’d do with any other physical one? Why do others tag people with mental illnesses as crazy or weird?
I ask myself these questions almost every time I hear the stigmas around mental health.
Stigmas are marks of disgrace or infamy associated with any certain person, quality, or circumstance. These stigmas are a hindrance to the treatment and normalization of Mental Health.
What are these so-called “stigmas” the community has associated with mental health?
Let’s take a step back from our main topic and look at these stigmas-
- People think they are attributed as villains or bad people if they have mental illnesses because, in media portrayals of villains, they mostly suffer from a mental illness.
- Mental health is taken as facetious and not so crucial, people think mental health can be easily dealt with.
- In the “real world”, mental health terms are used to refer to people who are unusual and strange. Who just don’t fit in according to them. If someone does something outside the ordinary people tend to say phrases like – “he’s crazy!” Or “he’s a psycho”.
- The population suffering from mental health is seen as violent and aggressive which is not true.
- When imagining a person with mental health, the ideal image we make is someone whose hair is messy, who looks scary and is odd looking.
People are scared that others will judge them and look at them as different, they think having a mental illness is not that big of a deal and doesn’t deserve the attention it needs.
Sometimes they even think that no one will understand them or they will be bullied for going through the whole process.
I have met so many people with the same thoughts regarding mental illnesses.
It’s time we put effort and action towards society’s impressions on mental health disorders and remove all the barriers which take a toll on our mental health.
Although where do we start? How will we convince the larger population to normalize mental health like they do with physical health?
People tend to stop at this point. They think it will not be possible for them to create proper awareness, but trust me, it only takes one person to change the way things are done.
Let’s destigmatize mental health together.
Here’s how we can change the perception of the community –
- Create Awareness: Whether it is a friend, your family member, or acquaintance and if they’re suffering from mental illness, let them know it’s okay to go through it, proper treatment and precautions will help prevent increased stress. It’ll also make them feel better to consult a professional psychologist (just as it is with a professional doctor). Tell them it is normal, and analyze with them on their disorder. Let them know it’s okay.
- Mental Health is a Strength: People tend to think people suffering from mental health disorders are weak. In reality, the inner battles fought with oneself in the minds are the strongest ones! You’re not weak for struggling with mental health issues, you’re the toughest out there!
- Refrain: Hold back yourself as well as others from using mental health terms in casual taunts. People tend to put psychological disorder terms in the insults of other people. It’s not alright to do that. Abstain from using terms like psycho, mad, crazy, or even nuts to define others.
- Spread the Word: Make posters, write articles, share posts, and use various other means to spread knowledge about mental illnesses. Make people realize ” it’s normal as well as common”.
- Avoid the opinion of others: If you or someone you know is ill, know that the opinion of others on your mental illness doesn’t matter at all. You don’t need to be worried about what your friends, your neighbors, or even some random person you know feel about your mental health. If you’re nervous that they’ll judge you, let them know, and make them aware of it. If they’re bullying you, create awareness again, and stand up for yourself.
- Remember it doesn’t define you: People get sick all the time, but do we label them for their sickness. Do we call a person suffering from cough and cold, a sneezer? No right! It’s funny because it’s true. The same as that, your mental illness doesn’t define you, it plays a part in making you a better and stronger person! Be proud of that.
- Support others: People sometimes withhold sharing about their mental health because they think nobody will understand and support them. Let your family and friends know you’ll always be there with them no matter what. Be a support for them, not a reason to back off.
- Empower, not avoid: Empower people to talk about their mental health. Make community groups and spread awareness. Don’t stop yourself from circulating information about something on the verge of getting better. Join groups that promote and support mental health. Encourage people you know to do that too!
These are just numbered ways to destigmatize mental health. There are various other routes to the success of Mental Illness Destigmatizing.
I am sure that if we start acting upon this, people we normalize mental health.
Remember, life is tough, but so are you! Let’s all put our hands together to make a change!
- Sarah Hashmi
Sources:
- https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/mental-health
- https://www.who.int/news/item/28-09-2001-the-world-health-report-2001-mental-disorders-affect-one-in-four-people
Yass!! This was very much needed! Good job!
Hello,
The content you have provided is pretty much well revisedband well quoted but there are still things which I think you must have taken care of:
1. In the intial paragraphs, you quoted a statement by WHO but that must have double inverted commas as it was a quote by some organization and also there are couple of grammatical mistakes.
2. Also, like all the problems and stigma you mentioned about mental health in your article is more limited to India, so you should have mentioned it in your article as there are worldwide readers to this article and there are certain countries who sre largely concerned about mental health of their citizens like UK & USA.
3. You should have provided some more examples as it can help your readers know how to relate it you might have given some examples of indian based movies coz there are very few talking about mental health.
I guess this is it but I hope i did not offend you.
Thank You,
Take Care!!
A beautifully well written article. It’s so important that people start talking about their issues and not repress them and we create awareness about it. Thank you for being so supporting!
Very well written.. By destigmatizing mental health, people will be more willing to seek treatment. People are scared to be perceived as “crazy” or “unstable” because of the way society looks at mental illness.
this is the exact thing what people out there need to understand that MENTAL ILLNESS IS NOT A DISABILITY. this long held taboo in our country has prevented many patients from seeking help and saying out loud about their issues. by destigmatizing and spreading awareness at least some of them might seek professional help..
Just loved how you ended the article with that quote. Yes we are all tough. Sometimes we need time to get back to our routine,sometimed we need to ‘take a break’. It is really sad how mental health is still considered a ‘myth’ by some people.
The article is very well written. I only felt that some citations could have been there and also some statistics. Great work.
It makes no sense that India, an ancient country with several special stream of medicine has no room for mental health when it is in fact the most important. i am so thankful that psychological counselling in an up and coming practice.
A beautifully written article which everyone needs to read. Some more examples could have been aslo useful. But it’s really great topic and nicely written article.
The way mental illness is treated, especially in India, It has become quite important to start treating people dealing with it normally. Your article is informative but just like you’ve mentioned the statistics of the no. of people suffering from it, you should also mention the stats of how many people do not consult a psychologist. Other than that, it’s great!
the content provided is very useful.
This article contains a clear cut information about the destigmatizing the mental health in the society.
It also provides the steps to be taken to enhance one’s stigma and also provides few simple instructions by which we can change the perception of the community.
This article honestly is very important and the topic is amazing. The content is so well articulated. I love how it ends on a positive note. It is an easy read and very interesting.
Looking forward to reading more content from you.
Stay safe and take care.
I loved the article but I wish it was longer and a little more informative.
Hello, well done first of all. But just a suggestion ,you should have provided some more examples as it can help your readers know how to relate it you might have given some examples of indian based movies coz there are very few talking about mental health.
I guess this is it but I hope i did not offend you.
Also the medical insurance doesn’t cover any money invested for mental health. It’s so heartbreaking that the biggest reason behind suicide ( mental illness) and also the most effective reason why people don’t commit suicide ( therapies/counselling) are not of any importance.
Good work!
The article that you’ve written is I think the most important issue when we think about Psychology. Moreover it lies at the root of all related problems. You’ve done a good job at it. However, these are the following points I think you should’ve taken into account-
1)i think it’s because MAJORITY STILL ISN’T AWARE of what mental healthy, the term actually is, what are MENTAL ILLNESSES and HOW THEY SHOULD BE LOOKED AFTER. and how our mental health is so important that it affects our..everything actually, from our physical ability to do our work, to controlling our moods, to how our thoughts and beliefs are formed for the rest of the life.
2) The issues related to mental health are very sensitive and majority doesn’t have the time to fully cater to the needs of those suffering. People often shy away from talking about it, making the subject matter taboo automatically.
3) Many people suffering aren’t finally stable to afford the heavy costs of treatments. Many other aren’t aware of what financial literacy is, thus running last in the race.
4)It would’ve made the article interesting if you’d included some examples showcasing how and why it’s been stigmatized.
5) It’s also important that we stop blaming the society and the media for how things are not going right. There are millions who have the resources, knowledge and opportunities but still don’t seek help. Media is actively involved in spreading the right awareness about mental health rather than doing the opposite as many claim.
I hope it’s not a bother.
Thanks for the article!
Love the basics .nice work
I really felt amazing while going through your article. All the words you mentioned are clearly directing how society differentiate same of their own kind , it’s no longer a doubt that people are becoming less human and more of manipulation even for life.
The stigmas you explained and ways how we should come above that Is appreacible step indeed.
Great work.
well written:)
I agree, there’s a need to talk more about mental health. I really liked your article.
Good article, we surely need to de stigmatise mental disorders and help build contribute to a society which is open and also a safe place to talk about mental health issues
I really appreciate this article. It has all the necessary information to convey about mental health. There are facts, there are common questions with their answers, there are starting points. It is, as a whole, a complete well-written article.
Such an article can definitely normalize the normal..
Mental illnesses are a thing, it is real and we need to talk about it.
i think it’s because MAJORITY STILL ISN’T AWARE of what mental healthy, the term actually is, what are MENTAL ILLNESSES and HOW THEY SHOULD BE LOOKED AFTER
This article honestly is very important and the topic is amazing. The content is so well articulated. I love how it ends on a positive note. It is an easy read and very interesting.
Very informative article.
Any i feel its a very good topic during this pandemic. Well written.
Exactly what we needed. Thanks for sharing this information
The article is very useful and contains clear information about mental awareness and stigmas attached to mental health.great work
Destigmatizing mental health not only benefits everyone but also makes them understand that suffering mentally is the smae as suffering as physically (kinda?) And that you need someone to check on it and also that being mentally strong means that you have accepted yourself the way you are cause that is tough and only few people are able to do that.
The article was amazing to read fro start to end.
I hope i get to read more articles from you.
Much needed and even more appreciated!! Nice content! I am here to contribute to uplift the stigma surrounding mental health too. Hope we can work together to bring a positive change in society. Keep going!
I love how the writer starts with facts it ignites interest in the readers.
Addressing it as mental illness again and again does not really justifies the concept of destigmatizing.
Not all mental health issues are illnesses.
I appreciate the part where the writer says she questions herself everytime when she hears the stigmas around mental health it shows she’s very much attached to the cause.
I love how the articulation is very simple and easy understandable.
She doesn’t only talks about the issues but also the solutions and how to overcome it.
The article shows the author has done a very good research on the topic.
I also liked the part that how the writer ends the article on a very high and positive note that if we’re all together we can make this happen.
A perfect article, it truly had points that need to be made common. Often, people make the mistake of defining the person with the mental illness they have, use serious illnesses as basic adjectives, something that isn’t correct. I personally had no issue with the article, just that it could include more effective ways to stop this “stigmatization”, apart from standing up by oneself. But still, this really raised awareness, amazing!
By destigmatizing mental health, people will be more willing to seek treatment. People are scared to be perceived as “crazy” or “unstable” because of the way society looks at mental illness.
So informative I really loved your article
Hey! Your article has a beautiful aim, and it is the absolute need of the hour! I really admire how you have taken up such a relevant topic and given your take on it! Just a polite suggestion, do proof read your article while reviewing. It will help you present a crisp and ready to go article. I also really love how you’ve given references too! Keep writing!
Its definitely shameful that even though we live in the 21st century, mental health is considered a stigma. That point was very important to be brought out. And I’m sure all of us at some point have wrongly used the words mad, crazy or psycho on people when these words are for serious disorders, my sincere apologies for that. I’m extremely happy to see more solutions about how to break the stigma because usually people raise just questions and not solutions. Great job!
Much needed article! Wonderful work! Keep going
I must say you have done a good job by addressing this topic. The article has come out really wonderful .
Amazing article!
I really liked how you started with various questions that are embedded in our minds regarding mental health, the stigmas attached to it and how we as individuals and as a whole community can contribute towards destigmatising mental health and raising awareness!
A few suggestions from my side-
– Add quotation marks if you’re quoting a statement from somewhere.
– providing few examples related to stigmas attached to mental health.
Keep up with the amazing work!
All the best
Mental illness are covert , so people tend to act and pretend as though they are completely fine . Their battle with the internally self is completely discreet and no one can see . Wherein other health illness are overt unlike these mental I’ll. Just as you mentioned many are not even aware about their battle with self but they are constantly fighting with themselves and the world . Lack of knowledge and understanding abot it is the key cause of this issue of hide and seek .
One must read this
Awesome
This was very much needed
Very well written
loved how you ended the article with that quote
everyone needs to read.
nice work
keep writing you
amazing work done
will shatre
share*
🙂
Thanks for this article ❤Superbly written.. Wishing you all the very best. Have a nice day