Understanding Stigma and Mental Health
Stigma means having negative or unfair beliefs about something. Sadly, many people face stigma when it comes to mental health. They worry that friends, teachers, family, or coworkers might treat them differently if they knew about their mental health concerns. Stigma can even change how people feel about themselves or someone they care about. It can make them feel ashamed, blame themselves, or think they’re alone in dealing with mental health.
Facing stigma is tough, and it can stop people from getting the mental health care they need—about 20% of teens and 50% of adults don’t get the help they should.
How Stigma Affects People
Shame
Feeling bad about having mental health conditions.
Self-Blame
Thinking it’s their fault for having mental health conditions.
Isolation
Feeling alone in dealing with mental health conditions.
Reducing mental health stigma means making it okay for everyone to talk about their feelings and get help when needed.
Here Are Some Things You Can Do To Help
Learn and Share
Learn about mental health and talk about it with others, including children. Help people understand that mental health issues are like any other health problem and not something to be ashamed of.
Talk About Feelings
Talk openly about how you feel. Encourage your friends, family, and children to share their feelings too. This makes it normal to talk about emotions and ask for help.
Use Kind Words
Be careful with your words. Avoid saying hurtful things (e.g., someone is “crazy”) or making jokes about mental health. Use words that show you understand and care.
Support Others
Be supportive of people facing mental health challenges. Show kindness and listen without judging.
Share Your Story
If you feel comfortable, share your own experiences with mental health. This can help others feel less alone and encourage them to seek help too.
Ask for Help
It’s okay to ask for help. Encourage others to seek help from professionals without feeling embarrassed.
Speak Up
If you see unfair treatment or hear mean comments about mental health, stand up against them. Be a voice for fairness and understanding.
Spread Good Messages
Support movies, books, and shows that talk about mental health in a respectful way. Share positive stories that show how people can overcome challenges.
Encourage Positive Change
Support making it easier for people to get help for mental health issues in schools, communities, and workplaces.
Celebrate Success
Celebrate stories of people who have overcome mental health challenges. Show that recovery and living a good life is possible.
Reducing mental health stigma needs everyone to work together. By being kind, understanding, and talking openly about mental health, we can create a world where everyone feels accepted and supported.
Taking the First Step
One of the first steps in supporting mental health is talking about it. To learn more about starting this important conversation and fighting stigma, check out the resources below!
Making Mental Health Conversations Normal with Your Child
Talking about mental health with your child is important, and it doesn’t have to feel strange or uncomfortable. Here’s how you can make it normal:
Start with Everyday Comparisons
Begin by comparing mental health to physical health. For instance, just like we discuss a cold or a fever, we can talk about feeling stressed or sad. It’s all part of taking care of ourselves.
Use Familiar Examples
Relate mental health to things your child knows. If they understand allergies, explain mental health concerns in a similar way. “Sometimes our minds react to feelings like our bodies react to certain foods.”
Share Your Feelings Too
Let your child know it’s okay to talk about feelings. Share your own experiences, like times when you felt stressed or worried. This helps them see that everyone faces challenges.
Ask Open-ended Questions
Encourage your child to express themselves by asking questions that need more than a simple yes or no answer. For example, “How do you usually handle stress?”
Use Relatable Language
Keep it simple. Instead of complex words, use words your child can easily understand. Say things like, “Feeling down is like having a rainy day in your mind.”
Highlight the Normalcy
Emphasize that everyone has mental health, just like everyone has physical health. It’s a normal part of being human. We all have times when we need a bit of extra support.
Make it Routine
Incorporate mental health chats into everyday talks. This shows that it’s a regular, normal topic. For instance, discuss how their day went, including how they felt emotionally.
Remember, talking about mental health helps everyone feel more comfortable and supported. It’s just like any other conversation you’d have with your child. Check out our Guides for Talking about Mental Health for more.