On Curing the Stigma

Dear Community,

The Valley Care Coalition would like to bring to light and raise discussion and awareness about mental health stigma.

Have you ever wondered where stigma comes from? That’s a complicated question? It’s almost like asking where do differences in racial prejudice, political views, religious preferences, or sports team allegiances come from. Turns out we are influenced by our family, friends, the media, our culture, our environment and a whole host of factors. Rather than figure out where stigma begins, let’s do our best to educate ourselves about how to reduce stigma and work towards ultimate elimination.

Did you know many people with mental illness lead full, productive and satisfying lives? Despite living with a diagnosis such as substance use disorder, eating disorder, depression, anxiety, stress, or bipolar disorder, people go to work, vote, own homes and businesses, and contribute to our communities. Mental illness should be looked at with the same attitude as physical illness. Often times we assume a person chooses or causes a mental health condition; however mental illnesses are the result of life situations which one has limited control of. It would be silly to tell someone to just “get over” cancer, and the same applies to mental illness. People cannot just pull themselves up by their “boot straps” or put their “big girl pants on” and get over it.

Here are 5 steps you can do to help cure stigma: One, don’t label people who have a mental illness. People are people, not diagnoses.Two, don’t be afraid of people with mental illness. Three, don’t use disrespectful terms for people with mental illness. Be careful about using diagnostic terms like “that’s my OCD” or “she’s so borderline." Given that 1 in 4 adults experience a mental illness, you quite likely may be offending someone and not be aware of it. Four, don’t be insensitive or blame people with mental illness. Provide support and reassurance.Five, be a role model. Model these stigma-reducing strategies and teach them to your friends, family, co-workers, etc…Spread the word that treatment works and recover is possible. Changing attitudes takes time, but repetition is the key, so take the pledge to be stigma-free and get the word out and bring about a positive shift in how we treat others.

Stigma is not something that will go away on its own, but if we work together as a community, we can change the way we perceive mental illness in our community. Let’s all do our part to help end the negative perceptions about mental illness and raise awareness wherever we can. Spread the word that treatment works and recovery is possible. Pledge to be stigma free today. It’s doing the right thing and treating others respectfully and justly. After all, Stigma is 100% curable.

Also of note, the Valley Care Coalition will be hosting a mental health awareness walk on May 12, starting at 10 a.m. at the Valley Event Center and ending at the Civic Center. The walk will feature speakers discussing mental health awareness and stigma in the community.

Thank you.

Mary Hughes, Valley

Care Coalition Member