Stop Yourself And Others From Promoting Mental Health Stigma
Back in August, Angelique of Breaking the Mirror wrote about the top eight ways to become an eating disorders recovery advocate. I thought it was such an awesome idea that I decided to do it here at Mental Health Notes!
As I started writing, however, I realized just how much information can go into helping someone become a mental health advocate. So, I’ve broken the list into five separate posts for you to peruse all week in a series called “Top 5 Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate,” starting with:
Number One: Become a mental health advocate when you stop promoting stigma and stop others from promoting stigma.
You may not be a cruel, heartless, thoughtless person, but you may use words like “nut case,” “crazy,” and “whack job” from time to time when referring to another human being. Stop! These words have negative connotations and are degrading.
When people who know a little something about mental illness hear you say those words, they may think you are cruel, heartless, and thoughtless. And, when people who don’t know much about mental illness hear you say them, they may think it’s okay to use them, too.
It’s a vicious cycle, see?
The next time you feel yourself getting ready to say these things, close your mouth and look at the situation. Is someone acting in a way that actually does make you think he has a mental illness? Maybe all he needs is someone to reach out and offer help. Or is the person merely acting in a way you don’t like or making decisions you don’t agree with? Maybe you just need to remove yourself from the situation.
You can stop others from promoting stigma, too. It is not a good idea to tackle the lady at Wal-Mart whom you overheard making fun of someone with a mental illness (though, I permit myself the occasional shooting of a dirty look – I’m an imperfect person, what can I say?), but it is a good idea to talk with your family, friends, and co-workers about such behavior. And don’t feel nervous about it or out of line. You’d defend your child if someone called him “stupid,” “ignorant,” or “ugly,” wouldn’t you? Then defend yourself, your loved ones, and others with mental health problems, too.
Keep in mind the best way to stop others from promoting stigma is to educate them about mental health and to let them know how their words and actions hurt others.
For example, if someone says, “That woman is a real nut job! She’s so bipolar I can’t stand to be around her!” you may reply with something like, “It’s not really our place to diagnose others, but if she really is struggling with bipolar-type symptoms, maybe we can help her find some resources? Or at the very least, not call her names that only make the situation worse. People don’t choose to have a mental illness, after all.”
Yeah, it sounds all textbookish and worthy of a Public Service Announcement, but calling someone out in calm and mature manner, and one that suggests you know what you’re talking about, really does work.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s information about mental health advocacy and research organizations, but in the meantime, share your thoughts here about stigma.
- Have you been guilty of promoting stigma?
- How have you tried to stop others from promoting stigma?
- What advice would you offer someone who comes face-to-face with degrading, stigma-promoting words or actions?
POSTED IN: Mental Health Notes
9 opinions for Stop Yourself And Others From Promoting Mental Health Stigma
chato
Sep 9, 2008 at 12:42 am
* Have you been guilty of promoting stigma?
Yes! But mainly it was focused at me and my then lack of education on the subject.
* How have you tried to stop others from promoting stigma?
YES! Just today in fact, when a woman call the pressure and stress she was dealing with like being it “made me a little bit schizophrenic!”… She took offense that I would even highlight it.
* What advice would you offer someone who comes face-to-face with degrading, stigma-promoting words or actions?
Pick your battles! We can’t go around change every deep seed misunderstands. If they are friends or family or people that you work with you may be able to just talk to them and high light the stigma in a tactful way and give an explanation why it is offensive. They might not even realize. Oh the other hand, if some one is being tormented verbally or even physically they may be a need to step in.
Although I wonder, can stigma be HATE CRIME?
Get Involved With Mental Health Advocacy And Research Organizations
Sep 9, 2008 at 10:21 am
[...] In yesterday’s post for the “Top 5 Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate,” I wrote about how you can easily become a mental health advocate when you stop yourself and others from promoting mental health stigma. [...]
Alicia Sparks, Mental Health Notes
Sep 9, 2008 at 2:45 pm
@ Chato - Ah, that’s great advice! “Pick your battles.” So true. That’s something I had to learn to do when I first got into both mental health advocacy and animal rights advocacy. And, it’s a tough lesson at times.
Kind of wrote a story about it here: Accepting Reservations For The Funny Farm
I remember one of the NAMI WV ladies passing along the same advice during a health fair we attended, after one of the visitors to our booth looked at us, drew circles around the side of his head, and laughed, “I’m not crazy!”
*sigh*
Get Involved With Mental Health Support Groups
Sep 10, 2008 at 9:01 am
[...] Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate” series here at Mental Health Notes, I’ve given you reasons to stop promoting stigma and a list of large mental health advocacy and research organizations with which you can get [...]
Educate Yourself And Others About Mental Health
Sep 11, 2008 at 8:23 am
[...] 5 Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate” series here at Mental Health Notes, I’ve given you reasons to stop promoting stigma, a list of large mental health advocacy and research organizations with which you can get involved, [...]
Get Involved With Mental Health Politics
Sep 12, 2008 at 6:10 am
[...] series here at Mental Health Notes comes to an end today, and so far you’ve read about stopping mental health stigma, getting involved with mental health advocacy and research organizations as well as mental health [...]
Kat
Sep 12, 2008 at 9:42 am
This is a delicate balance we try to walk with our 12-year-old daughter, who has depression and has been medicated for much of her childhood. It’s a pretty normal thing around our house, but she has had some bad experiences in confiding to friends that she takes depression medication. That leaves us walking a delicate line and having to say, “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, but you shouldn’t tell people, because they might not understand.”
That never feels good enough to me, but I also want to protect her from other people’s rudeness. We’ve kind of swtiched to, “It’s none of anyone else’s business, so don’t bring it up, but if there’s a reason to tell someone, you don’t have to be embarrassed.”
I think that works better, and there have been times when my daughter has recognized depression in some of her peers and talked to them about it, knowing full well that some people have freaky reactions (freaky isn’t stigmatizing, is it?). She isn’t afraid to bring it up when it’s important, but besides that, she mostly keeps it to herself.
And I confess that I have used the terms “whack job” and “nut job” when referring to certain politicians…and you’re right, it’s wrong. I’ll stop, since it’s not their mental health I object to but their ideas.
Kat
Round Up Of The Top 5 Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate
Sep 12, 2008 at 12:21 pm
[...] One: Stop Yourself And Others From Promoting Mental Health Stigma. People with any kind of illness - mental illness included - are up against a lot. Refraining from [...]
Alicia Sparks, Mental Health Notes
Sep 13, 2008 at 6:06 pm
@ Kat - Thanks so much for sharing your story. I think everyone’s been guilty of using those kinds of names/words. I’d be lying if I said I never had. Heck, I’d be lying if I said there weren’t still times when I get so frustrated or angry or shocked by someone’s behavior, things they’ve said, etc., that I’ll say something like that (in conversation with another person, or just to myself). I’ve gotten really good at immediately following up with, “You know what? Let me not even say or think that. I know better.”
And you’re completely right. There is a delicate balance, and in all kinds of situations, such as that with your daughter. You know your daughter. You know what she deals with. You know that working to manage her mental health makes her no different from any other human. We all have brains and minds at risk of health problems. But you also know that not everyone is educated enough about mental health, or sensitive enough, or compassionate enough, to know the things you know. I think you handle it wonderfully. I’d no doubt handle it the same way. And, when your daughter gets older and has more experience in handling it (the situation as a whole), I’m sure she’ll be experienced, and comfortable, and “grown up” enough to make those kinds of decisions (about telling people, or not) thanks to you :)
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