How Can We Really Support Mental Health?

In recent years, #mentalhealthmatters has been getting a lot of attention. We are trying to promote awareness and acceptance of mental health as a society. Companies, communities, and individuals are trying to break free from the stigma attached to mental illness. Although we’ve made improvements, I hear a lot of feedback that we still need to improve.

So why can’t we accept mental illness to the point we should be? Unlike other health conditions such as diabetes or asthma, mental illness is portrayed by behaviors. People with mental health conditions may have specific behavioral patterns that aren’t consistent with social expectations. They may be less social, more energized, speak differently, or have ways of living that don’t fit into the mold. When humans don’t understand others, they can be judgemental and unaccepting. Sometimes, they may make fun of or even fear different people.

This is why true acceptance starts with understanding. Society needs to continue to get educated on what mental health conditions really are and how it impacts people. We need to continue to learn the difference between “weird”/crazy” and a mental health condition. We must understand that small comments and jokes can impact our progress to a stigma-free society. And we have to understand that mentally ill people are like anyone else. They are human beings with feelings and goals and want to be accepted. They can live a fulfilling life with the proper support. And most of them don’t use their condition as an excuse. They want acceptance; we can still do better to achieve more of it.

Continue to be that positive change! Spread awareness, be mindful of offensive terms, show kindness, and LISTEN. Mental illness isn’t what you see in Hollywood. They aren’t some dangerous or deranged outcasts; they are humans with dynamic stories like all of us. Listening to their experiences will help us understand them more. So, if we say #mentalhealthmatters, let’s make sure we really mean it!