Let's Talk Mental Health! [Forum Discussion]

Greetings!

I hope this post finds you well! Let’s partake in a forum discussion today about mental health! This discussion is a part of the Content Volunteer Team Mental Health Week forum event! Please check out the masterpost for more details about the same!

‘Mental health’ has become a buzzword on the internet that people sometimes use well but at other times, mental health terminology is thrown around casually. Mental health conditions and experiences are real and ought to be respected, which is why it is important to be well-informed about them! 

Common ways in which people misuse mental health terminology: 

“I cannot take it if things are not in order! I’m so OCD!” ❌

You might not be suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder simply because you like to see things organized. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is a disorder in which individuals struggle with persistent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive physical or mental acts (compulsions). People with OCD experience intense anxiety because of their obsessions and this leads them to engage in compulsive behaviors in an attempt to alleviate their anxiety. 

Read more about OCD here. 

“They closed down my favorite cafe, I’m depressed!”  ❌

Yes, it might make you feel upset if your favorite cafe closed down and you cannot go there anymore, but this does not mean you have depression. Feeling sad and being depressed are two completely different things. Depression is a clinical mood disorder characterized by feelings of dejection and desolation, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, impaired ability to function normally, and sleep disturbances among others. A low mood or feelings of sadness may last for a bit and then you might feel better, but depression typically stays for at least 2 weeks (DSM-5, 2021). 

Read more about depression here. 

It is important to be mindful of our usage of mental health terminology. There are millions of people out there who struggle with mental health issues of various kinds. Their lives are profoundly impacted by them and using mental health terminology casually trivializes their struggles. Let us work together to create accepting and supportive spaces for people with mental health conditions!

For you:

1. What are some ways in which we can make people feel supported in their struggles?

2. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being “not at all” and 10 being “extremely”) how accepting are people around you of mental health conditions?

3. Please feel free to reply with any other thoughts about the topic!

Please reply to this post with “I want to be tagged for this event” to be notified whenever a post for this event is made. I hope you have a lovely time here in the subcommunity! 

Find the Event Masterpost here. 

Taglist: @sunisshiningandsoareyou @Tinywhisper11 

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Before you go! 

Did you know about CDM? It is the Content Development and Marketing Program which is offered for free by the 7 Cups Academy! It teaches you the essentials of developing content and marketing it so that it is more visible on the internet with a specific focus on mental health! At the completion of this program, you earn a free certificate from the Academy which you can use to further your professional growth! Find out more here.