CDM Talk: Mental Health Advocacy
Hello lovely folks! 🤍
Most people have dealt with mental health issues in one way or another. However, people often do not seek help or they keep it to themselves for fear of judgement, and stigma. In addition, many people do not have adequate resources, support nor a safe place to talk. Meanwhile, we found support and resources in abundance and free on 7 Cups.
Team Lightship, along with many others in our community, adopts content marketing practices to raise awareness and advocate for mental health. Using social media, we also introduce our community to a wider audience.
The concept of mental health advocacy has been developed to promote the human rights of persons with mental disorders and to reduce stigma and discrimination (ncbi). Read more about what a mental health advocate is here.
- What is an example of mental health stigma or discrimination which you have experienced directly or indirectly?
- What mental health issue would you like to advocate for?
- What are some of the ways you raise mental health awareness among the people you know in life?
This post is brought to you by the Content Development & Marketing Program (CDM) 7 Cups Academy - Free program. Free certificate. Click here to apply. Click here for more info.
@ouiCherie
Love the quote, and the message, thanks for sharing, Cherie! 💜
- What is an example of mental health stigma or discrimination which you have experienced directly or indirectly? The most annoying one haha, that all smiley people have their life together and have no right to hit rock bottom because "they've got it" and express their feelings about the same, or that "it's just in your head" or "you're overreacting, just snap out of the sad mood" and similar, where only a certain limited section of people or concerns could have the power to make one suffering with their mental health, and anything beyond the common understanding or without any "justification"/ "visible cause" is just overreaction and nothing else for certain people! *-*
- What mental health issue would you like to advocate for? Depression, I feel it's one of the most common ones yet so much stigma and lack of awareness around.
- What are some of the ways you raise mental health awareness among the people you know in life? In very subtle ways usually, sharing messages and graphics containing similar messages, interrupting and explaining why the interruption when someone says something invalidating/ stigmatizing in general etc.
How about you?🤗
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Sunnie 💫 People here seem to put empathy before unsupportive judgements 💙 Yet in life, not so much. When I began advocating for mental health openly, I found some people around me were judgmental, and some others hid their issues.
Knowing that it's okay to not be okay, and that they're not alone, is a relief for those who suffer in silence. Truly, we never know who stays up all night fighting anxiety, or who feels like on the verge of mental breakdown while laughing.
I'd like to continue advocating for relationship issues and ADHD. With the latter, it's really tiring when people misunderstand me. The battle against stigma still has a long way to go.
@ouiCherie
Aw yes indeed, such a lovable thing about 7 cups, and not so lovable thing about the off-cups world.
I think for off-cups it's also that people are so busy and entwined in their own life and struggles, sometimes it's not even a passing thought "Oh this person could be struggling with something maybe I can try to be kind here" or "Oh Xyz never shares anything about themself, maybe I can ask them how they have been later today" or a "I haven't seen you lately, how is life treating you?" Or the very least bit of effort "its good to hear from you😊", these are too the (not so) little things that make massive difference. 💛
I understand how terrible it must be with the everyday misunderstanding and stigma. :/ So uncalled for and intolerable! *hugsss* I know you do so much to bring awareness and support for the same and that hope you're always returned with lots of kindness and understanding.
I hope we can all collectively take steps to be as informed, aware, non judgemental, kind, accepting and supportive as possible in the time to come. It certainly does start somewhere and I'm smiling while just imagining how big of an impact we can make if only we are a bit more patient and kind with just one person ~ all it takes and doesn't even demand much from us! ❤
Thankyou for this post, Cherie, this too is advocacy at its finest y'know? Raising awareness and encouraging people to do the same, in whatever little ways possible~ every bit counts! 🤗
I'm actually quite grateful to 7 cups, because I certainly feel more informed, aware after being here, and it does help in off cups interactions also!
@Sunisshiningandsoareyou beautifully said, Sunny! 💕 I especially like that 'little things that make a massive difference'. And Sunnie, you do make a massive difference here with your kind and empathetic presence. Wishing you the best for 2023 and beyond!
@ouiCherie Aww thankyouuuu! 🤗 Wishing you a lovely year ahead too! 💕
@ouiCherie I would like to see more funding for crisis intervention and prevention, spec education, and crisis counseling programs.
I would like to see more people, take mental health conditions more seriously, then they currently do.
Yes, you can have a disability and a mental health condition, it is possible to have both.
I feel people lack empathy and understanding, about disabilities and mental illness, at times.
People can sometimes be so insensitive at times, to other peoples needs.
Give us a chance, we can do great things, we may do things differently or have to have some accommodations, but we can still be productive members of society.
Let's put away our differences, and our racist thoughts and come together, as one big united front, instead of being against one group of people because, they have this disability, or this color of skin, or this illness or they are gay or straight, we all have our issues, every single person struggles with something. Let's come together and get to know each other. Let's STOP judging others. Let's be kinder and more loving to each other. Let's be more accepting of each other, despite our differences.
I feel, that if people in general, would take the time to get to know us, I mean really get to know us, they would find out, we are NOT all that different after all.
If we took the time to get to know, a person I feel society in general, would be much better for it.
Sorry for my rant, but I speak, my mind.
This was on my mind today.
I thank you for listening and for reading.
@calmMango9611
I hear you, Mango! It is time for us to be more focused on common ground than on our differences.
Yes, anyone can do all the great things, whether or not you have a disability. Don't let others tell you differently. People with healthy self-confidence and self-esteem do not need to bring others down 💕
@ouiCherie I agree.
@ouiCherie
- What is an example of mental health stigma or discrimination which you have experienced directly or indirectly? - one example of mental health discrimination that i have witnessed personally is the fact that people and establishments do not quite understand why someone takes medication for mental illness.
- What mental health issue would you like to advocate for? - i would like to advocate for depression as a mental health issue because depression is most widely and most commonly misunderstood.
- What are some of the ways you raise mental health awareness among the people you know in life? - one way i believe that i can raise mental health awareness is to use the internet and social media to make it aware to the world that mental health is not something to discriminate against. mental illness is a common situation in society for many people and it can be treated with medicine, psychiatry and therapy.
@NewYorker11 spot on answers! In light of all the unfortunate things taking place in the world, mental health issues are more prevalent. It's about time for us to be more considerate and kind in our thinking, words and actions.
Yes, social media is one way to reach far. An African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together” 😊💕
@ouiCherie
- What is an example of mental health stigma or discrimination which you have experienced directly or indirectly? I have experienced stigma surrounding my OCD. People think that it is just washing your hands or making sure your room is clean when it is so much more. It really does show that there is more than appears on the outside.
- What mental health issue would you like to advocate for? I would hope to advocate for OCD!
- What are some of the ways you raise mental health awareness among the people you know in life? I really like to talk to others about how I am feeling and the true reality of OCD. It can take some time for people to understand, but that's why education is so important!!
@fruityPond7887 indeed it is frustrating when OCD became a buzz word to label someone simply because they are strict with procedures, obsessed with cleanliness, tidy and sleek all the time, punctuality is very important for them, etc. I posted this post about that.
If you want, you can help @AmintaBlack building awareness around OCD within the community in Support Plus. 💕
@ouiCherie Thank you so much for sharing that wonderful post! Aminta does such a great job of sharing more information on OCD and I am so grateful for her! ❤️
@fruityPond7887 @ouiCherie
I totally agree education is important for OCD since there are a lot of misconceptions! Hopefully the SP+ community will keep growing 😊 We are looking for people to help host some session for Jan 2022 for Autism, ADHD, and OCD for those that are interested. We are also looking to do it at times that work for different time zones. ❤️
Most sessions have been 8pm ET Wednesday as that is the only guaranteed time I have off, but anyone who can host earlier that would be great! Anyone interested can PM me or @tranquilMoon1757
@tranquilMoon1757 wonderful. Thank you, Moon! 💫
- What is an example of mental health stigma or discrimination which you have experienced directly or indirectly?
That men are supposed to be strong by default and they need to keep things to themselves because the world doesnt care, just because they are men. - What mental health issue would you like to advocate for?
General Mental Health - What are some of the ways you raise mental health awareness among the people you know in life?
By emphasizing on the importance of self-care
@DonaldDraper
Interesting topic! This is unfortunately true. In childhood, men generally learn not to be sensitive, and in their teenage years, they learn not to show vulnerability or what's considered 'feminine' emotions.
Seems like being stoic is expected more of men than of women. Although often unspoken, failure may create stigma and appear weak. What do you think? Is it like that? And what's the advantage and disadvantage of this public stigma?
I'm aware that you continuously advocating self-care which is of paramount importance for our overall wellbeing. Thank you, Don!
@ouiCherie apathy is a disadvantage and advantage would be self-reliance maybe