Here we are in the year 2020 and some things just have not changed. For so many, there is a stigma around seeking and receiving mental health counseling services. For some populations of people, the stigma may be higher. While I am not going to get into details on sex, race, culture or any other specific factor, I am going to discuss some of the considerations behind the stigma and how we can overcome together.
It is estimated that about one in five individuals in our country suffer from some type of mental health issue (https://www.nami.org/mhstats). With the number of individuals experiencing mental health needs being so high, you wouldn’t expect the barrier of stigma to be as prevalent as it is! For some people there is shame and hurt that comes along with receiving mental health care. You may feel that you become less of a person in the way that you identify yourself (male, Asian, Christian, etc.) Some families may have stigmas around associating with family members who have mental health needs. How hard it must be to seek out help when you have been made to believe that there is something wrong with you if you do or that you are a lesser part of the family for doing so. For many there is a fear of isolation from others. Fear of isolation from people, institutions, and legal matters. If you are in the military or were raised in a military family, you know this well. Other careers may reject you too. If you are adopting children, you may fear the rejection of a placement. For some there are fears about losing rights as a result of having a severe mental health need. There are so many reasons that one may feel the realness of stigma associated with mental health care which can keep them from obtaining the support and care that they need.
So, how do we change that? Awareness is a great start. Even though we are at the end of May and Mental Health Awareness Month, we can still help others know about the great needs of others and that it is okay to seek out help. We can share our own stories. We can help others know that it is possible to have a mental health need and receive mental health care services without becoming less of a person. We can help others by showing them they are not their disability and that they shouldn’t live in isolation by caring about them in ways they understand their value and need in society. We can provide information about about support groups and join in alongside those we care about to share our support for them. We can discuss treatment options with others and address the stigma by being real and providing real information. We can check up on those we care about to see how they are doing while starting and following through with mental health care treatment, which will show others that this is not an issue to be ashamed of. If you are someone who suffers from a mental health issue or suspected mental health issue, you can seek out the support from family, friends, groups, and professionals to show that you are willing to break the stigma associated with mental health needs.
If you or someone you care about would benefit from mental health care treatment, talk to them and share information about treatment options, providing them with referral sources. Share with them in ways that they will be able to overcome the barrier of stigma.