We are living in a society where Mental Health doesn’t come off as something important as it should. Everyone thinks about the aspect of someone abusing alcohol and drugs, eating a bad diet with no desire to stop, lashing out on people they care about, and so on as just people being crazy or they’re considered “dumb” for harming themselves physically.
But what about the mental state of an individual?? No one is considering this, but it’s just the constant gossiping of what the individual is doing “wrong”. No one is stopping to think that an individual could be dealing with stress/grief and coping in a negative way or dealing with childhood trauma and anxiety. Let’s talk a little bit more on the subject at hand.
Myths About Mental Health:
-You can control your symptoms
-Therapy/Self-Help is a waste of time; medication is the only solution
-People “are” their mental illness
-Children don’t experience mental health
Facts to the Above Myths About Mental Health:
-Believing someone can control their illness is simply unhelpful. Telling them to “cheer up” and “not to worry” does nothing. It’ll also add on more layers of pain and shame
-Treatment varies depending on the illness and the individual. Therapy, medication, or both could be prescribed
-You’re not your diagnosis; you’re a person dealing/coping with an illness
-Young people can show early signs of mental health concerns, but it may go untreated because of the lack of knowledge of the parent/family
Reasons Why People Don’t Get Treated:
-Lack of Insight/Information
-Fear and Shame
-Feelings of Inadequacy/Failure
-Distrust: opening up to a counselor/doctor
I’ve seen several times where someone states they’re depressed, having suicidal thoughts, battling with anxiety, and more but it wasn’t taken seriously. Especially in the African American community; most of us believe that “just” praying will solve everything. I am a spiritual person who prays daily, but I do recognize that with praying and doing some work towards the matter will produce better results.
Next time you see someone doing things and it’s either out of their character or something that has become repeated behavior; how about you simply ask them how they’re doing, why they choose to do the things they’re doing, or is there anything you can do to help?
If the person is willing to talk, which for the most part people are but when you’re only judged and not asked how you’re doing that’s when the response is nowhere near positive. Those questions could lead to you checking on their physical, emotional, and mental state. Until next time!!!
