We’ve come a long way with mental wellness; there’s less of a stigma about depression and anxiety, and we’re beginning to break down some of those wild mental health misconceptions. However, some myths still remain, so let’s try and bust them – once and for all. Let’s start with the basic, indisputable facts of mental health:
- Mental health problems do not reflect your personal weakness, lack of character, or upbringing.
- Emotional problems can affect people of any age, race or income.
- Your profession or religious affiliation does not cause or “brand” you with illness, nor is it any kind of punishment.
- Mental illness is a medical condition – just as diabetes – and as such, it is largely treatable through one or a combination of therapies.
You might still be thinking; “I can’t do anything for a person with mental illness.” However, the truth is that there is a lot you can do to ensure the best possible outcome for their emotional wellbeing. As with most things, it all begins with how you act and speak. Create an environment that builds on people’s strengths and promotes understanding. This means not labelling people or defining them by their diagnosis. Instead of saying someone “is schizophrenic,” say that they “have schizophrenia”. It’s a seemingly small difference, but this people-first language helps to make a distinction between the person and the illness.
Plus, as it is Mental Health Awareness Month, now is the time to become an advocate for mental health. There are certain lifestyle steps that can help you to build and maintain your wellbeing, and which you can promote to others so that we can all achieve mental wellness. Most aspects of health come down to a balanced diet, regular exercise and plenty of sleep – and mental health is no exception! However, being a mental health advocate also means promoting a sense of self-worth, development of coping skills, emotional awareness and connections to family, friends and community. Get those in place and you, and everyone around you, will be better equipped to tackle the mental health challenges that come your way.
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