Mental Health Awareness Month ❍ Check-in May 4th
Hi Everyone 😊
May is Mental Health Awareness month
Let's have a small discussion, please share your thoughts 💜
Do you think it is important to destigmatize mental health issue? And why?
Yes, I do think it' s a very important thing to destigmatize. A lot of people have mental health issues and they may feel weird or embarrased about them. It's important to have safe placeds to dicuss these issues and help people open up about what they are going through. If people feel like they are going to be shamed for their mental health issues that may lead them to not wanting to get the help they may need. Everyone should feel valid and safe!
@lowkeylucky
Very well stated 💜 I agree with you, that it makes people avoid to get help, and struggle alone in secret afraid of being judge by their society when the truth is most everyone is struggling with one or another thing.
I'm glad 7Cups continue to provide a safe place by enforcing rules and building structure through guidelines, yet to extend it in real life, to advocate destigmaze mental health issue, it takes a lot of your self-esteem even when you have a healthy one.
● Question: If you were to advocate destigmatize mental health issue to society, what would you like to say?
Thank you for sharing your thought ♡ *big teddy bear hugs*
@ouiCherie Very true! Everyone has their own problems and things they are dealing with which is why it's important to be kind to everyone. Being able to advocate for what you believe can be difficult, like you said even with a high self esteem and confidence! Just posting about mental health awareness on social media is a form of advocating for the destigmatization. Volunteering our time with things like 7 Cups and being able to openly talk about your mental health issues can help someone else do the same. By inspiring them or making them feel comfortable you already reached one person! Talking to youre friends and family about mental health issues and educating them on topics that they may not know much about! Learning about mental health can help people understand what it is, people are afraid of what they don't know. So teaching others is a form of activism that will help decrease the stimga to this topics. There are also petitions to help have schools educate students about mental health issues and illnesses. <3
@lowkeylucky that's on spot. Stigma is indeed coming from lack of understanding that leads to fear which manifests in wrong judgment.
Cool ideas you brought up to start advocating destigmatize it in personal level can be done by educate our closest people with reliable sources, participate in petition which idea we agreed on. Love that.
Thank you Lucky 💜
@ouiCherie of course! Thank you as well!
@ouiCherie
Thank you for starting this thread!
Destigmatization is important but it is also crucial that it isn't the only thing we focus on. From a Canadian perspective, we have gone overboard on this topic. I began focusing on raising awareness and destigmatization a decade ago and we have gone far with that. However, the new organizations and themed events relating to mental health is again, on destigmatization and awareness. We're already aware of mental health issues in general and have reall spread the word on common issues like Depression, Anxiety, Post-Trauma, and Eating Disorders. For us, it is time to focus on providing resources and increasing accesibility. Awareness and destigmatization would be great for things such as Personality Disorders and Psychosis but we need more mental health workers to do this to avoid misinformation like I have witnessed in the past.
From an Indonesian perspective, this is something we need to focus on a lot. Although... we are still mostly anti-gay to a dangerous degree so I think we should fix that as a number one issue...then clean up the mental health mess from the results of an anti-gay society. There are many steps and things to consider before focusing on awareness and destigmatization because it's going to be hard to open up lots of parts of conversations when we have prejudice as a huge barrier not only on the mental health front, but from other factors as well.
All in all, destigmatization and awareness is a step to our final goal in achieving mental health support and accesibility to all. Should it be a sole focus? No. Would my response be the same for every country? No. Is it crucial for a good foundation on society? Yes. We can work this out by implementing bits of empathy for the different. Elementary and Secondary students should be taught about overall mental health and how we all are on the spectrum and it is up to us to maintain our own and others. We need others to maintain good mental health.
A country that immediately comes to mind when it comes to destigmatization and awareness is France. They are the ones in a good place to focus on this as many people find the stigma to be a barrier. Due to stigma in this area, those who just need general support or even just want to continue their depression medications have a difficult time doing so. They often feel judged and believe they would bring shame to their family. As someone who does not live there, I am open to suggestions to help bring my previous awareness and destigmatization work to France. I will be happy to collaborate with anyone currently living there and give extra input/insight to the situation and how it is progressing.
@DanciaKS it's lovely to have met you 🤗
You had started long ago, went from idea level into real works and have been step further to straighten misinformation by making correct information more accessible to everyone. Fantastic!
I agree that we may not be able to agree in everything, but empathy is essential for acceptance of differences
Thanks for share your thoughts and inputs Dancia 💜 all the best for your works to help create a better and well informed world!
@ouiCherie
Thank you so much! You clearly have an amazing drive and a great head on your shoulders. I have no doubt that you'll continue in your future being an incredible leader and succeed in your endeavours.
@DanciaKS that's very kind of you to say that. The feeling is mutual :)
@ouiCherie
Do you think it is important to destigmatize mental health issue? And why?
Hello Cherie ✽
This is actually a really important question, thank you for bringing it up. According to reserach, we see that through the years Stigma (being more prominent back then) has had various effects on those dealing with Mental Health issues. It is challenging enough for one to go through such perilous situations; but when it is stigmaised, with individuals being singled out and looked upon differently, it can worsen one's mental stability and hinder their recovery process. We understand the effects Stigma has on those facing issues. Even though, through the years, with the constant effort of awareness of these topics being brought to the general public in the form of articles, stories, research, testimonies etc., it seems that there have been improvements in destigmatising Mental Health issues, but it is not enough.
Every single person going through issues that have to do with their Mental Health are constantly battling something; they are trying to get back up again and heal. This process is delicate and must be given the utmost care; which includes not stigmatising them...at all. Mental Health issues are not something that needs to be stigmatised because they can happen to anyone. Hence, even though it has reduced to an extent, as compared to the years before, we could work more on eliminating the idea that Mental Health issues are to be stigmatised. Instead, we could encourage and educate others on Mental Health topics and how to embrace those going through issues, hopefully contributing to helping them heal in any way we can.
Hi @DaisyDaph 😊 how's it going with you?.
Very well stated Daph! It's challenging enough for one to go through such perilous situations and it can happen to anyone 💜 that's compassionate of you as always.
And I agree, education is one of the best way we can end stigma on mental health and also stigma in other areas like race, culture, religion, etc.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and inputs 🤗
@ouiCherie
Things are going well, Cherie, thank you for asking! How about you, how are you doing? ❤
Exactly, the same applies in other areas as well like race, culture, religion etc, as you mentioned. Imagine if we can eliminate Stigma in all areas and encourage a life that is filled with awareness, compassion, love, warmth and empathy. It would be nice wouldn't it? The process of doing this seems easier said than done though, right? But like you said, education is such a powerful tool and it might slowly, yet surely help in dealing with this. Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts as well Cherie :3
@DaisyDaph you're always a great discussion friend 🤗
