Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health in the Society

  

By Olumide Labulo 

Mental health is just as important as physical health, yet it is often overlooked. It affects how we think, feel, talk and behave in daily life. Right now, the untold truth of living in denial of the burdens of everyday life, conforming to societal expectations and folding under pressure of varying shades is like rubbing salt into injury. 

To really understand mental health, WHO says it is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. It further says that one in every eight people has mental health issues ranging from schizophrenia to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar, anxiety disorder, depression, insomnia, etc. This singular fact is a pointer to the need to break the stigma around mental health.

The first thing to do to break this stigma is to continually sensitise people about these issues, how they come about and how they affect people. That way, the many walls of misconceptions that exist between societal perception and shaming of mental health issues: their  symptoms and treatment options will be pulled down and replaced with knowledge and understanding.

The society has a way of shaming things that don't conform with their expectations hence, normalising conversations about mental health—just like we do with physical health—helps reduce shame. Sharing personal experiences or listening to others can create a sense of connection and understanding. People tend to fear what they don't know. There was a time a time I told someone I was HSP (hyper-sensitive) next, she said I needed help. Ironically, HSP is not even a mental issue or disorder, it's just a personality trait.

Another way to break the stigma is to become supportive. Identifying with whatever mental issue anyone is having by using supportive language like "I can only imagine," "What can I do to help?" "I'm so sorry you have to carry that much burden," not fear gripping expressions like "That's weird", "Crazy," " You're not normal," etc. Also, sharing stories of people who have successfully managed mental health challenges and encouraging them to seek therapy, counseling, or other support as a normal and healthy choice can inspire hope, show that recovery is possible and empower them to prioritize their well-being.

While the advocacy for breaking the stigma of mental health is important, every individual should also know that prioritsing their mental well being is non-negotiable. It is a practice that requires delibrateness, emotional resilience to reduce or eradicate any threat that can contribute or lead to serious physical health problems.