Be A Mental Health Ally
Perhaps the biggest misconception about mental illness is that it is a single condition. Anxiety, depression, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and schizophrenia, etc., vary greatly from one another and can range in severity from mild to acute. The first step to being a mental health ally is to educate yourself. The National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Institute of Mental Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization are all valuable sources of information.
NoStigmas has a free online “Ally Training” course, which addresses how to be an advocate for yourself, your community and mental health equality for all. After joining NoStigmas, you have access to three hour-long modules on Self Care, Peer Support and Advocacy. The modules are composed of three 20 minute lessons that can be completed at your own pace. NoStigmas Ally Training is intended to create a community and an environment of acceptance and equality where individuals can learn how to effectively communicate about mental health, build practical skills and sustainable practices, and recognize mental health crisis situations.
As NoStigmas teaches, every person has a responsibility for his or her mental health, should not be defined by a diagnosis and is entitled to be treated as an individual. If someone you know has a mental health condition, exercise compassion, ask questions and respect confidentiality. Begin by learning the signs. Someone with anxiety may have physical symptoms like difficulty sleeping, head and muscle pain, or stomach distress. Validate his or her feelings and symptoms by offering understanding. Ask how you can show support and what he or she is and is not comfortable with. For instance, an individual may not want to talk about his or her condition in front of others.
In addition to offering patience and support, encourage friends and loved ones to consult a professional (if they have not done so already) when mental health issues affect their physical health and/or sleep; disrupt home, school or work; or negatively impact their relationships. Talk to individuals you know who have had success with therapy to gain insights on what to expect (and tell them how brave you think they are and that you are proud of them for prioritizing their mental health.) Consider sharing an article about mental health via social media, which can begin helpful conversations.
Stigma, including stereotypes and negative representations and inaccurate portrayals in the media, perpetuates fear, is a major cause of underdiagnosed mental illness, and can serve as a barrier to treatment and crisis intervention. The language we use matters. Rather than suffering from mental illness, individuals live with it. If you are not sure how a friend or loved one describes his or her experience with a mental disorder, ask in a responsible and sensitive manner.
Rather than being a personal weakness that makes people dangerous and/or unfit for society, mental illness is a biological disorder for which treatments exist. For example, depression is one of the most remediable mental disorders and the American Psychiatric Association estimates that between 80 and 90 percent of people with it eventually respond well to treatment, with nearly all patients obtaining some relief from their symptoms. Be a mental health ally and create a safe space where others can comfortably talk about their mental state and seeking professional help and share their stories without stigma.