One of the greatest barriers we face in our efforts to improve our mental health, relationships and overall well-being is the stigma that surrounds mental illness. Mental health stigma has been around for many years and has a long-standing history. While the stigma has changed and evolved over time, it is still very present and creates a large obstacle for us to get proper support and treatment. A hundred years ago and beyond, people suffering from mental illness were shunned, ostracized and locked away from their communities. As years passed, society slowly began to recognize mental illness to be treatable, and formal diagnoses, medications and therapies were mainstreamed. Fast forward to the year 2024, and much progress has been made in all of these areas. However, stigma surrounding mental illness and getting help still looms large in the world, and especially our community. I’d like to share my understanding of why this stigma still exists and how we can affect positive change for ourselves and generations to come.
Why the Stigma?
To begin, let’s discuss why a stigma exists altogether. As mentioned previously, in earlier times people with severe mental illness or disability were, at best, locked away in institutions, and at worse abandoned and abused by their families and communities. Thankfully, we don’t live in times like those anymore. However, the principle of that stigma remains: That people suffering from mental illnesses are not “normal.” We have all been to the doctor for something before. Be it a persistent headache, the flu, a sprained ankle, or an ear infection, we have no issue with calling up our doctor and scheduling an appointment. We also do not hesitate to share these experiences with our friends and family. Yet, when it comes to our emotional well-being, it’s not quite as simple. Issues such as anxiety, depression, substance dependence or trauma, don’t get us up and over to a professional that easily. Additionally, we may hesitate to share what we are experiencing with people close to us.
I believe the distinction is simple: When it comes to the functioning of our bodies, we do not sense, “Something is wrong with me” if we need medical help or treatment. We do not feel attached to our bodies in a way that if something is off, we feel as if something is wrong with us personally. We know it is normal to experience various kinds of physical discomforts or ailments, and visiting a doctor could be compared to visiting a mechanic for our cars. We simply try to upkeep and maintain our body in order to function and live properly. However, when it comes to our thoughts, emotions and behaviors, it is far more likely for us to see issues as a reflection of ourselves, our essence. When we struggle to feel calm or happy, or experience difficulty communicating or regulating difficult emotions, we see it as an indictment of our character and who we are as a person. It’s no wonder then, why we experience all kinds of awful feelings like shame or guilt about the state of our mental health.
Our Community
On top of the already present stigma of mental illness, there are aspects of community living which I believe inadvertently compound this issue. Being part of a large community, where there are various norms and standards relating to religion, social status and economic class, makes it all the more necessary to fit in and feel “normal.” Even without mental health issues, many of us struggle to keep up with and meet communal expectations. Be it where someone’s child goes to school, what kinds of vacations their family takes, or how religious they appear to be, there is no shortage of areas where people may feel lacking in or struggle to stay on par with others. Add a mental illness or behavioral challenge to the mix, and it’s quite easy to understand why someone might want to try as hard as possible to hide it and keep up appearances. I have personally encountered a number of individuals who’ve expressed concern that their diagnosis will affect their social status or children’s chance at getting married.
You Are Normal!
Perhaps the very first step when it comes to shifting our mindset about mental illness and other emotional or behavioral challenges is having the clear knowledge that they are perfectly normal to experience. Any issue we may be having is being experienced by countless others, whether we are aware of it or not. Challenges such as anxiety, OCD, depression, ADHD, substance dependency, mood or eating disorders and any other possible mental illness, are extremely widespread, and a common experience to have. Just to back that up with some numbers, recent statistics show that nearly one-third of adults report symptoms of anxiety or depression; one in 12 men and one in 25 women have an alcohol use disorder; one in six women have been the victim of attempted or completed sexual abuse in their lifetime. The statistics in every area related to mental illness and trauma speak for themselves. However challenging and painful mental illness can be (and it can be very painful), one fact remains true about them: numerous people experience them, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with being someone who does.
What Can We Do?
I believe there is great opportunity for positive change in the area of mental health stigma. We as individuals, families and a community need to start viewing mental health like our physical health. While we don’t publicly announce our physical conditions or ailments, we are usually open to talking to those close with us about them. Our mental health should be no different. If we feel something isn’t right with our emotions or mood, or we’re going through a challenging time, we shouldn’t hesitate to talk to someone about it. At the very least they can offer us some support or empathy. In the same vein, we can become so much more open to seeing a licensed professional who is trained in the area we struggle in, who can offer us tools and skills (and in some cases medication) to cope better. We must know that whatever it is we are feeling or experiencing does not make us not “normal,” and that there is absolutely no shame in reaching out for support.
It is my most sincere hope that by changing the way we view and talk about mental health, we can cultivate a community where everyone feels comfortable being able to get the care and support they need.
Josh Frank, LMSW, is a trauma-informed psychotherapist who works with clients experiencing various mental health issues. Josh and his wife Sarah are residents of Teaneck. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Instagram @therapy.with.josh for more mental health content.
