Article written by Danielle Hughes
The truth is, you or someone you know has struggled at some point with mental wellness. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that 1 in 5 Americans experience a mental illness in their lifetime. Even though it has become ‘normal’ to experience mental health concerns, the stigma remains. And, when people choose silence about important issues, it strengthens the stigma.
So, let’s talk.
There are lots of reasons people remain silent and brush over mental health topics. Embarrassment. Bad memories. Lack of knowledge. Lack of interest. When we remember that we are all impacted, however, it puts some responsibility in each of our laps. What does that responsibility look like, you ask?
+Listening to others. Hearing what people are really saying, not just the words they choose.
+Being real with ourselves (and sometimes others). Maybe we do have a problem that needs to be addressed. Maybe we do need to ask for help.
+Modeling mental wellness for the younger generations. Taking action to care for ourselves, and getting help for our friends and family.
If we all did these three things, the stigma surrounding mental illness would shrink considerably. We would likely see a significant improvement in the overall mental wellness of Americans, simple because the stigma wouldn’t be blocking doors to help, to resources, and to relief.
Join the movement to become stigma free.
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