To De-stigmatize Mental Illness

Psychological well-being is often associated with very negative myths. It is because of this that de -stigmatizing mental illness is not an easy task. First, you should start by asking questions about your own thoughts on mental health. Once you have overcome the stigmas and myths associated with it, you will be able to see everything from a healthier point of view, without judging.

It is basically about not focusing on mental illnesses and their negative characteristics. To do this, you need to approach these situations in a way you have never done before.

First, however, we will define what de-stigmatizing mental illness means, who is a key component of the process, the challenges that come with it, the origins of the stigma, and how we can encourage de-stigma.

To de-stigmatize mental illness

De-stigmatizing mental illness means looking at them from a new perspective. It is basically trying to look at mental health in a different way.

Therefore, de-stigma means giving mental health the importance it deserves, while acknowledging the suffering associated with it from a different point of view.

The origin of the stigma of mental illness

The stigma behind mental health has evolved over time through several different mechanisms. In fact, the stigma is a result of fears, myths and stereotypes that made it acceptable to discriminate against those suffering from a mental illness.

Even in the past, people distinguished mental health from other health problems. Mental illnesses were often perceived as negative (for example, people associated them with being possessed by demons). Other times, however, it was associated with being a genius or an artist.

However, people still look down on those who suffer from mental illness due to the old myths.

On the other hand, physical health has always been more visible. Now, however, society is slowly discovering how important psychology is when it comes to physical health problems, as well as how these two are related to each other. Furthermore, according to the World Health Organization, health is composed of psychological, social and physical well-being.

Thus, many other health organizations today have tried to tell us how important mental well-being is as a fundamental aspect of our overall health. In this way, people’s perspectives on mental illness have gradually changed.

The challenges of de-stigmatizing mental illness

To reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, we should start by dispelling some myths:

• Mental health is not important. Our health is multidimensional. If you take care of every single component, your quality of life will be better.

• Anyone who suffers from a mental illness is a genius. This myth comes from a time when people believed that madness was a sign of intelligence.
• People suffering from a mental illness are aggressive, unstable and dangerous. Although mental illness affects one’s behavior, emotions, and thoughts, not everyone with mental illness has these traits. Although they may have trouble controlling their behavior sometimes, it does not happen all the time, nor with all disorders. Mental illness can affect people in different ways.
• Our mental health does not affect our physical health. Several aspects of mental health can affect your physical health, since they are closely related. A clear example of this is stress.
• You are your disease. People often stigmatize a person with an illness as if it were part of their identity. They do not overlook depression or schizophrenia.

These myths, which have been born out of ignorance, can end up encouraging discrimination, either because mental illness is considered something you should be afraid of, or because it is not seen as important.

What can you do about it?

What exactly can you do to help de-stigmatize mental illness?

• Work with your empathy. Put yourself in other people’s shoes to see what they go through. Do not just believe in stereotypes and prejudices.
• Be open to learning more. Looking beyond what your first opinion on the subject was, being open to new perspectives and trying to understand how mental illness works, can prove to be very helpful.
• Teamwork. By working with others from different disciplines, you will be able to see health from a multidimensional perspective.

The biggest challenge may be seeing people who suffer from mental illness as normal, simply. Another thing you need to understand is that health is a global concept where there are different factors that play a role. Therefore, in order to help dispel the myths, you should try to avoid believing only in other people’s opinion.

Who can help the most?

• Organizations. They may have campaigns that help reduce the risk of mental illness and promote mental health, as well as try to implement new laws and guidelines, and work with those affected so that they understand the problem.
• People suffering from mental illness and their families. By promoting mental health as an important issue and dispelling myths around it.
• Health professionals in the mental health service, by explaining to people what mental health really is.

To promote better mental health

To reduce stigma, you can intervene in various settings, such as:

• Media. The goal is to promote the concept of mental health from a more realistic and positive perspective.

• Diagnosis. To use diagnoses reasonably to avoid stereotypes.
• Healthcare. Promote the importance of health care for mental illness.
• Support systems to explain and disprove some myths and offer proper treatment to those suffering from mental illness.
• Implement legal measures to combat discrimination and violence related to mental health.

While it is important to use policies and provide the right information, these measures do not guarantee long-term change. Therefore, each individual should start by trying to better understand and support people with mental health problems. To de-stigmatize mental illness, a concerted effort is required.