The Effects of Mental Health Stigmas and How to Combat Them
By Jima Chester, Intern
This is an honest talk about stigmas about mental health. Everyone has mental health so the understanding of stigma and its effects are very important! Stigma can make people feel ashamed about something that is not their fault. Stigmas about mental health can create unhelpful beliefs about treatment and prevent people from seeking the professional mental health services they need. All of us can help fight against stigma. The question is: How can you help fight against mental health stigma?
Understanding Stigmas & How They Affect Others
When talking about stigma around mental health, we have to talk about how it causes more pain for people who already bear a heavy burden with their mental health. There are many efforts to fight against stigma and over time, things have changed but change also starts with everyone taking a part in it. Most of the time stigma comes from fear or lack of education about what mental health is. People's negative words, actions, judgments, or perceptions about mental health can impact the way others see themselves. Wide-spread stigma can also prevent someone from seeking the mental health treatment that could help them.
After gaining an understanding of how mental health stigma can negatively impact people, it’s time to move on to the next step: Combating Mental Health Stigma.
How to Combat Mental Health Stigmas
Below are some simple and effective steps everyone can take to fight against stigma:
Tell others about your mental health journey or experiences. Share with friends, family members, or a professional!
Seek accurate information and resources about mental health. Read credible blogs or books. Listen to podcasts or Q&A’s. Ask questions to someone with a professional degree in a field related to mental health!
Be positive and uplifting. People gain encouragement from themselves but also from others. Appreciating and recognizing others’ efforts to take care of their mental health is life changing!
Be intentional and purposeful with your words. Sticks and stones may hurt physically but words can live with you forever. The language and way we talk to others about mental health and professional mental health services have a big impact on others. Being mindful of your words is important!
Call to Action
In this blog, we looked at ways that mental health stigmas can affect others, ways that we can learn more about mental health, and ways that we can fight against stigma. Here’s your call to action: Which of these initiatives and steps are you going to try first? Which of these steps will you ask others to try? Will you become an advocate for mental health and fight against stigmas?
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Written By: Jima Chester, Intern
Jima is a community/youth leader and advocate as well as an entrepreneur and artist. She is also a Healing Youth Alliance Ambassador (HYA). The Healing Youth Alliance is a youth-led organization dedicated to educating the community and other organizations about mental health, trauma, and healing. As a Healing Youth Alliance ambassador, she has been trained and educated by members of the Black Mental Health Alliance on the topics listed above.
Photo Credit: Tara Winstead and Polina Zimmerman
Date of Download: 7/26/2022
