Talking One Language
Mental health stigma, suicide or substance abuse . . . these problems continue to prevail in all corners of the world despite advancements in medical and psychiatric research. In the United States, suicide has become the second-leading cause of death among college students.
More people are hearing about mental health but many are still not receiving treatment. A lot of people around the world are too afraid to speak out about their illness, out of fear of ridicule. Many people around the world also do not have access to mental health services; a psychiatrist may be as close as a 3 hour drive.
Depression and anxiety continue to plague all levels of society, whether rich or poor. There is no correlation between money and mental health; one may be a billionaire and still develop depression or a substance use disorder. Even among the 1%, talking about mental illness is often a challenge.
The root of the problem is ego: we are afraid to be more open about mental illness out of fear of injuring our ego. Rather than seeking the proper help and care for an illness, we attempt to keep the symptoms to ourselves, or worse, hidden from ourselves. Many people attempt to ignore their symptoms, believing that this cannot be happening to them.
Rather than creating a worldwide platform for sharing our struggles with mental health, we are beating around the bush by avoiding talking about something difficult or unpleasant. Rather than treating humanity, we are treating segments of humanity; the whole remains divided into pieces.
Pieces do not solve the larger problem. We must come together and open up regarding our struggles with mental health; there is no shame in being sick! Shout it from the rooftops if it has to be done. We have the chance to change the way society views mental health, so future generations can come into this world experiencing a comfortable place to seek help and treatment.
It’s time for us to talk one language: mental health.
Are you Ready? (This is Defeating Stigma Mindfully)
DSM (Defeating Stigma Mindfully) 