Although perceptions and public attitudes have improved in recent years there is still a long way to go before the topic of mental health is no longer a taboo subject.
With a variety of mental health treatment options available, the infrastructure for making a recovery is in place. All that needs to improve now is society’s view of mental health problems.
It is such a prominent medical problem it really should not be stigmatized. Here are some ways you can help improve attitudes.
Always talk openly about mental health
It will make a big difference if you encourage greater openness and a willingness to talk about mental health problems.
With mental health illness so prevalent in many family’s lives it should be a topic of conversation and not something to hide or discuss openly.
Mind your language
Using the right words and avoiding derogatory terms about mental health problems will help encourage wider acceptance. Using politically incorrect words to describe a person’s state of mental health is not kind. That doesn’t mean you have to ban all terms from your language, just find some words and descriptions that are unlikely to offend.
Learn more about mental health
If you take the time and the trouble to learn more about mental health conditions and symptoms it will help to banish some of the misconceptions and stereotypes that persist.
Take it upon yourself to educate others about mental health and see what a positive difference that makes.
Try to be empathetic
If you treat someone who has mental health problems with empathy and compassion it will help you understand more about their problems and encourage others to take the same approach.
Treat mental health with equality
If you are able to encourage an outlook of equality relating to mental health it will help others to view this illness in the same way as other health problems.
Shun the media stereotypes
Mental health is often talked about negatively in the media when there is a shocking public incident like a shooting.
It is clearly unfair to label each incident as being directly linked to mental health.
Try to avoid accepting these stereotypes.
Resist the urge to criminalize mental health problems
Law enforcement officials and legal officials can sometimes take a detrimental and biased view of someone who has mental health problems.
If you can help stop this level of criminalization in some way it would help change attitudes, in general.
Remember to see the person and not the illness
If you know someone in your life who has a mental health problem it would really help their recovery if you treat them just like any other person rather than allowing yourself to be biased by their condition.
Be a voice in the fight for mental health reform
If you can find any way to be an advocate for mental health reform it could make a difference.
Having a positive and respectful attitude about mental health will encourage others to talk more openly and show greater tolerance and acceptance.
If as many of us as possible resolved to be a positive voice for mental health problems it really could make a difference and improve attitudes.
