Let’s start with the good news—the stigma surrounding mental illness and mental health disorders is declining. According to a 2019 survey on behalf of the American Psychological Association, 87 percent of respondents said somebody should not be ashamed of having a mental health disorder.
The bad news? The stigma isn’t entirely eradicated. That same survey found nearly one-third of people agreed with the statement “People with mental health disorders scare me.”
As a way of educating more members of the public to be aware of mental and behavioral health issues, and to celebrate the successes of those who live with them (and overcome them!) every day, experts across the nation recognize May as Mental Health Month by encouraging discussion, offering resources, and seeking to help society understand what mental health is—and what it isn’t. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, an estimated one-fourth of American adults battles a diagnosable mental disorder. These could take the form of anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, ADHD, obsessive-compulsive disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia, or other conditions.
According to a 2019 survey 87% of respondents said somebody should not be ashamed of having a mental health disorder.
American Psychological Association
The same survey found nearly 1/3 of respondents agree with the statement “People with mental health disorders scare me.”
The problem with the stigma surrounding mental health disorders is that it makes it harder for people to seek treatment. In some cases, they might just be worried their friends or family will perceive them differently if they know about their diagnosis. In other cases, their health insurance won’t cover treatment, or they face discrimination at work because their condition isn’t seen as a “real” medical problem.
Whether you struggle with a mental health disorder yourself or you are close to somebody who does, there are practical ways you can work to reduce the stigma. Here’s how to get started:
Always be open to learning more. The first step to reducing stigma is to educate yourself about it. You could do this about mental health in general, or you could learn about the specific condition affecting a friend or family member. Knowing what this condition entails will help you become more understanding of why a loved one is behaving the way they are. You will also be able to separate fact from misconception about the condition, thus reducing the fear or shame associated with it.
Evaluate your own sense of stigma about yourself or those around you. Many people with mental health disorders will advocate acceptance and de-stigmatization while they themselves remain quiet about their own struggles. Nobody should have to open up about something private if they feel uncomfortable about it (especially when it comes to their health), but it’s important to acknowledge to yourself that you have no reason to be embarrassed. The more you open up about your own mental health struggles, the more you will find that people relate to what you’re going through and will feel comfortable opening up about their own experience.
If it helps, refer to yourself (and others) with person-first language. For example, tell people you “have schizophrenia” instead of “are schizophrenic.” This ensures that neither you nor anyone else sees you as somebody who is defined by their condition.
Treat mental health the way you would physical health. Along the same lines of evaluating your own sense of stigma, you should strive to perceive mental illness the same way you would physical illness. You wouldn’t avoid seeking treatment for heart disease, cancer, or diabetes—why wouldn’t you take the same responsibility when it comes to mental health disorders?
Similarly, you wouldn’t make fun of somebody with a physical condition, so why would you let somebody with PTSD or ADHD become the butt of jokes? If your child had asthma, you wouldn’t ignore it and pretend it wasn’t real, so why would you do the same with a child who has depression? Find ways to make people with mental illness feel comfortable, and always celebrate their achievements as they overcome struggles.
Understand that mental health disorders are not the same as personality traits. A big part of the stigma surrounding mental health disorders is that society sometimes perceives them as trivial or not real health conditions—this can be exacerbated by casual use of terms referring to mental illness. Remember that being sad is not the same thing as having depression, or that being organized is not the same thing as having obsessive-compulsive disorder. Be sensitive in your use of language so that you don’t further these misconceptions or accidentally internalize them yourself.
Don’t shy away from conversation. Think of the first three people you would call if you had great news—you got a great job offer or you closed on a new home. Remember that those same three people are also the ones you should feel comfortable calling if you’re struggling. When you’re having a particularly bad mental health episode, don’t be afraid of opening up and talking to somebody about it. On the other side of things, if you know a friend or family member struggles with their mental health, make it clear they can come to you when they are in need. Be open and check in with them from time to time so that they know you are available.
Respectfully but directly correct any stigmatizing you encounter. Many people don’t know that their inappropriate comments about mental illness are harmful. If you see somebody sharing something degrading on social media, leave a comment. If you hear an inappropriate joke on a TV, write an email to the production company. (Remember to keep it respectful—a lot of people are uninformed but not malicious.) This not only informs the person who has been insensitive but also shows anybody who is suffering in silence that there are people out there who understand.
Join a support group. When you join a support group, you find yourself surrounded by people who share your experience. They will help you see that your condition or disorder does not render you less of a person; additionally, they can offer support and advice from the perspective of somebody who actually knows what your struggles are like.
Need more resources? Organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (nami.org) and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (adaa.org) are great places you start. You can also take NAMI’s pledge to be part of the Stigma-Free Campaign and maintain your dedication to spreading awareness at nami.org/get-involved/pledge-to-be-stigmafree.
