I was going to share this article without comment, but I also realized that I really, really, want you to read Johnnie’s last two paragraphs, because this is vital: “I believe today, there are many among us who have recovered from mental health issues and yet no one knows their story. We all want to…
We ask people during times like Suicide Prevention Month to talk, to reach out, to check on their friends, and start conversations, etc. But do we model those behaviors in our day-to-day lives? Do you create an environment, at work, school, home, or in our own communities where talking about mental health issues is just something that we all do, and not a shocking thing to talk about? Because I can guarantee you, someone who is dealing with depression isn’t going to see a social media post about reaching out and do just that without having someone they know will actually help to reach out to.
The only way people will know that is if they see that behavior and hear these stories in their own community. Can you be part of creating that?
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On one hand, I think we could eliminate a lot of the stigma around depression, anxiety, PTSD and ADHD if we understood them to be fairly common, and normal responses to abnormal events.
On the other though, I’m concerned that trying to explain away something that can be as debilitating as depression can be could lead to an increase in people not taking it seriously. Which could lead to people not getting help as needed for it, and being blamed for not just dealing with it, etc.
I also worry that if we define mental health conditions very strictly, we’ll be increasing the stigma of those with other disorders like bipolar, or schizophrenia.
LGBTQ+ youth are not alone. See these resources One Way To Be An Ally Right Now? Support Black Mental Health. Perpetrators of child sexual abuse use sport as cover, inquiry finds – I feel like this is not surprising. Suicide prevention: Removing stigma around mental health, watching out for warning signs are key measures –…
Data charges removed for websites supporting victims of crime – Have US carriers done the same? I Am No Longer Allowing My Mental Illness To Tell My I’m Unlovable Moving Past Stigma How Organizations Can Support the Mental Health of Black Employees How can we spot mental illness in men? How Bad is the Stalkerware…
