Why Do We Stigmatise Mental Health?
Uncover the impact of cultural stigma on the perception of mental health and the steps you can take to help a loved one.
What is common between Simone Biles (Olympic gymnast), Naomi Osaka (Tennis player), Selena Gomez (singer, songwriter) and Prince Harry (Member of the British Royal Family)?
These are just a few names from a long list of the world's most famous and talented people who have been open about their struggles with mental health. This has helped mental health become a topic of mainstream conversations. While we as a society place physical health on a pedestal and take numerous steps to ensure that we remain fit and healthy, the same cannot be said for mental health. The taboo and stigma surrounding the subject made it less likely to be discussed with friends and family, but in recent years, people have become more aware of its significance.
The 10th of October is celebrated as World Mental Health Day to raise awareness, educate individuals, and reduce the stigma associated with mental health. Keeping the spirit of the day in mind, we at Psych Et Al are thrilled to be expanding the conversation on mental health. This article will explore the fundamentals of mental health, the stigma associated with it, the role of culture, and the steps you can take to help someone suffering from mental illness.
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What Is Mental Health?
Mental health is more than just the presence or absence of mental health disorders. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is a state of well-being that empowers individuals to tackle everyday stressors, achieve their full potential, and contribute as members of society.
Mental health disorders are considered to be one of the top causes of long-term disability in individuals often hindering their day-to-day lives. Statistics reported by the WHO state that 1 in 5 individuals experience some form of mental health disorder in their lives. To add on, the pandemic has been life-changing for all of us. For instance, the prevalence of common disorders, such as depression and anxiety, has increased by more than 25%, bringing up the number of individuals with mental health disorders close to 1 billion, based on the latest UN reports. That’s right billion with a b!
Yet despite these staggering numbers, mental health is not provided with the same parity as physical health. Globally, countries allocate only 2% of their healthcare expenditures to mental health. This results in many individuals not being able to access quality mental health services. And those who do have access to and seek mental health services are often faced with extreme reactions from society ranging from positive to negative, often leading towards the latter.
Mental Health Stigma
As we previously mentioned, individuals and society as a whole are far more comfortable talking about their physical health than their mental health. Think about it. In family gatherings, you are more likely to hear someone complain about their physical well-being, for example, saying they are going to get an angioplasty or are having breathing issues.
But when was the last time you heard someone talk about them feeling low, or not okay? Although there is a handful of cases wherein individuals choose to speak about their mental health well-being, the majority of us shy away from talking about it. This is due to the stigma that persists around mental health.
Often mental health stigma overlooks the person as a whole reducing their identity to that of their disorder such as labelling someone ‘psychotic’. Moreover, individuals diagnosed with any mental health disorder tend to be treated differently or are made to feel ashamed, making them feel considerably less of themselves. This consequently leads to worsening the prognosis of their disorder.
There are three types of mental health stigma namely self, public and institutional. Self-stigma involves the negative emotions that individuals internalise regarding the disorder. Research has shown that self-stigma leads individuals to be less likely to seek treatment or not fully commit to them.
Public stigma refers to the negative reactions expressed by society at large towards individuals with a mental health disorder. For example, it increases discrimination individuals face in the workplace and other public agencies, becoming a salient barrier preventing individuals from seeking help for their mental well-being. Moreover, it also affects the way in which individuals with mental health disorders receive care and treatment.
Institutional stigma, on the other hand, signifies something far more systemic such as the lack of Governmental and organisational policies which ultimately reduce the opportunities available for individuals diagnosed with mental health disorders.
Within the context of mental health, any type of stigma poses various challenges for individuals with mental health disorders and by extension for their families as well. Ultimately, it affects the treatment prognosis and increases the likelihood of worsening the prognosis or the risk of relapse. To reduce the stigma individuals face due to their mental health well-being it is essential to understand how mental health is perceived across cultures.
Mental Health and Culture
Culture impacts the way we perceive and interact with the world. It shapes the way we deal with stressors and who we choose to rely on for support for our mental health and well-being. This affects if and when individuals seek mental health services. For example, research shows that European Americans were more likely to seek mental health services and were more open to discussing their well-being than Asian and Latin Americans. This is because certain cultures consider conversation around mental health to be taboo and avoid talking about it.
Another key aspect to consider is that the field of mental health is founded on Western biomedical approaches, consequently overlooking other cultural beliefs regarding mental health. Research studying the attitudes toward mental health among Indians and Americans found that the former viewed mental health disorders such as depression to arise from controllable causes (e.g., not achieving set goals) in comparison to the American participants who viewed the onset of depression as a result of events out of their control. Furthermore, they turned towards social support and spiritual relaxation as methods to treat depressive symptoms as opposed to traditional forms of therapy.
What Can You Do?
Moving past the stigma, there are real people who suffer from mental illness and require our assistance. Seeing someone you love and care about going through difficult times can be heartbreaking. However, as their friends or family, you can assist and support them on their journey to better mental health with the four methods listed below.
a. Educate Yourself about Warning Signs
Each and every mental health disorder is different and the symptoms exhibited by individuals can also be different. But as friends and family, the first step we can take is to be vigilant about those around us by keeping track of noticeable differences in our loved ones. This in no way means that you don the hat of a therapist, it just requires you to move forth in a direction where you are aware of the well-being of those around you.
In addition to that, use reputable or reliable resources to gain more knowledge on the symptoms. This information can be very useful to recognise warning signs; whether it's someone in your home for instance children, adults or even someone at your workplace. By gathering the information you not only become more aware but also become more confident about supporting the individual on their recovery journey.
b. Reach Out
Once you have carried out your research and are suspicious about the well-being of your loved one, reach out to them and express your concern. You can choose to do this either in person, via text or via video calls as well. It is important that when you choose to do so, you create an environment of trust and ease them into the conversation, thereby encouraging them to open up to you.
Don’t pressurise them to share information they are not comfortable talking about, instead use open-ended questions that begin with “what”, “how”, and “when”. In addition to that, keep in mind that you have to let them do most of the talking and be supportive and non-judgmental.
c. Patience and Professional Help
Being patient is an important part of assisting someone on their journey to better mental health. While reaching out can be extremely beneficial, we must keep in mind that not everyone will be open about seeking help. In such cases, it's important to be there for the individual who would be comfortable expressing their reluctance at a later point. Similarly, we can also speak with the individual and listen to understand what is preventing them from receiving assistance.
If the individual consents to seeking professional help, then you can offer to make an appointment with a therapist or take them as well. However, at all times, avoid making decisions for them. This can make them feel uncomfortable and less powerful and can make it difficult to stand up for themselves.
d. Take Care of Yourself
Providing care to someone suffering from a mental illness can be extremely difficult. It is critical to look after one's own health during this process. According to research, caring for someone with a mental illness increases the caregiver's risk of depressive symptoms, emotional stress, and reduced quality of life. Only by taking care of one's own physical and mental health will one be able to help others on their road to recovery.
Keeping that in mind, when you reach out to someone with mental illness with the intention of assisting them, it is critical that you set boundaries and highlight what you can and cannot do to assist them. Take care of yourself first by getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating a well-balanced diet. During such times, express your thoughts and feelings to family members or friends. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the role, we recommend making direct contact or calling a helpline to speak with a professional about your concerns.
Slowly but steadily, the conversation about mental health is gaining traction. It is no longer limited to individuals, as organisations and governments recognise the consequences of poor mental health. While these are admirable steps and initiatives, we did notice that mental health, at least from a research standpoint, is culturally restrictive, emphasising the need for improvement. This ultimately reminds us of Robert Frost's famous quote "Miles to go before we sleep", especially in the context of mental health.
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