Breaking Silence: Destigmatising Mental Health

There has always been a deep stigma surrounding mental health. For centuries,

simply discussing it could ostracise someone from society, as it was common belief

that individuals with mental health issues were dangerous. The affected would have

a low self-esteem and be ashamed of talking about their problems. The undoubtedly

worst period for individuals with mental health issues was the 19th century, when

doctors believed that they could be treated as if they had physical illnesses, the

result of which were experiments that could be deemed nothing else but heartless,

cruel torture. Some patients were put into cages, which were lowered into water, with

the belief that their issues would be resolved, among numerous skewed methods

with the objective of restoring people to ‘sanity’. Worst of all, mental asylums were a

byproduct of the thinking that, instead of trying to help an individual, it was best to cut

them off from society. There was no concept of rehabilitation as it is seen today.

Although mental health has been more broadly discussed in recent years, and

some improvements have been made in that field, the aforementioned ideas are still

prevalent and held by many people, which can lead to negative treatment and

discrimination. There has been a push to deinstitutionalise in Western countries —

however, many asylums were only closed in the last few decades. The meteoric rise

of mass media has not at all helped in this regard, as rare, individual cases are

sensationalised, which has led to a greater divide between those struggling with

mental ill health and the rest of society. Much of society has been led to falsely

believe the stereotype that individuals with mental health issues are somehow

incapable of living good, contented lives and must be evil.

Yet the most common mental health problems have no significant link to violent

behaviour. Drug overdose and alcohol misuse is far more likely to prompt violent

behaviour and crime. Nonetheless, many do not share their experiences with anyone

due to worrying about being seen as dangerous. According to the Mental Health

Foundation, almost nine out of ten people suffering with mental health conditions say

that stigmatisation impacts them in a negative manner. Being discriminated against

can lead to the vicious cycle of remaining trapped with one’s problems instead of

asking for help.

Stigmatisation can take various forms. It can be direct, that is, the treatment of

someone as inferior to others due to a mental health issue. It can be indirect,

meaning someone is put at a disadvantage by arbitrary rules set by a company or

individual. There could be threats for making a complaint about poor treatment,

harassment and bullying, or even reprimands for taking time off work or school to go

to a medical appointment. A recent survey by the charity Rethink Mental Illness has

found that ‘’three in five people living with a mental illness did not seek any support

due to a concern about how they would be perceived by others.’’ (‘’ ‘Stigma effect’

stops three in five people experiencing mental illness from seeking help, survey

reveals’’, Rethink Mental Illness).

Of all groups with long-term health conditions, those afflicted by poor mental

health have it the most difficult to find employment, live in adequate housing

conditions, and integrate into society. Remaining unemployed, living in inadequate

conditions, not being able to maintain long-term relationships, and being alienated

from society all have a direct correlation with the onset of the symptoms of

depression and anxiety.

Action must be taken to prevent disastrous consequences on the extreme end of

the mental health, such as having the urge to commit suicide and self-harm. It must

come from society, which should encourage those with mental health issues to

speak up and not feel ashamed. It is the treatment you or I give that could affect a

person’s life drastically, be it positively or negatively. That is why we must start from

the individual level by helping those we feel might be going through a challenging

period in their lives. That might be a colleague at work, a fellow classmate at school,

or even a family member. Time is of the essence; it is not good to wait with the hope

of things improving.

A careful balance must be struck; on the one hand, it is not good to be overly

zealous and be too inquisitive, as that might lead someone to further hide their

feelings out of shame. Instead, it is important to let the person know that they are in

a safe space where they will not be judged based on their words and feelings.

Sometimes, those struggling with their mental health just need someone who can

listen to them. It is vital not to formulate questions that might be too specific, instead

keeping them general. No matter what, one cannot attempt to take the place of a

professional and give a diagnosis; confrontation should not be sought. Urging them

to seek professional help is key, as they have vast experience in dealing with such

cases.

Stigma still remains towards mental health, but by starting out from an individual

level, all the while escalating our efforts to a national and international level, we can

raise awareness of the plight of those struggling with it. It is good to hope for an

improvement in the attitudes of society, but that cannot come unless we take drastic

action today. It is unfortunate to see that many politicians do not put much emphasis

on mental health, but this all could change with a collective effort. All the great

movements of history were started by a few, which is why we have reason to hope

that, with persistent work and relentless efforts, we can succeed in completely

breaking the longstanding stigma and facilitating better treatment and resources for

mental health.