5 Ways To Reduce Mental Health Stigma!

Learn how to stop perpetuating mental health stigma!
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Written by Rachel Salt and Gregory Brown

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Further Reading / References

What Not To Say When Someone Is Sick

Putting Feelings Into Words Produces Therapeutic Effects In The Brain

[aidanmaher]

When you have social anxiety but everyone says that you are just shy... 😒

[veer]

I have autism. Because of my decreased social skills I am increasingly more scared of talking to people.
It doesn't help that my difficulties in interacting are often pointed out to me and have been described to me as "the lack of vital basic skills of communication" and "the characteristic that is going to make every employer fire me".
By now I think the people that say those things are unfortunately right; I have been fired from every job I've ever had not because of a lack of skill or because of my work, but because I didn't fit in well with my colleagues or didn't express enough enthusiasm even though I really tried.
I feel sad that my confidence in interacting with other people is completely gone. I used to be an outgoing kid and now at 24 I am often even scared to talk to my own family.

[indigojay]

The only thing I disagree with is step 2, that people shouldn't use words like "crazy", "insane" etc. These words aren't connected with mental illness that much anymore, and forbidding these words that are no longer slurs just brings back their negative connotations.

However I hate when people use words like "autistic" or "bipolar" out of context. They are proper medical terms and should be kept that way.

[jasperperez]

I'm going to see a therapist for the first time on Monday

[stacysilver]

I actually feel so much better after going to therapy

[Jessicahasopinions]

Having anxiety depression and agoraphobia I try to openly talk about my mental illness as much as I can without getting annoying. People need to know that it's ok to not be ok all the time and mental illness does not make you weak. If anything we are stronger because of it because we have to fight through our problems and its that much harder to get through the day. It takes a lot of strength to live with a mental illness and to get help when you need it. I honestly believe that everyone, mental illness or not, would benefit greatly from therapy.

[parkercaven]

Thank you so much for making this. I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, adhd, and depression when I was only 7 years old. From growing up in an abusive environment I was always shunned for my illnesses. When I finally got therapy and meds, my therapist told me my illnesses were my fault and I should grow up (reminder: I was only 7) and my dad disapproved of me being on meds and wouldn't pick up my prescriptions or give me any supplies I needed. (I can't swallow pills so I have to crush them and put it in apple sauce) and more recently (I'm 14 now) my mother has been making me terrified of my meds and the idea of therapy. She acts like I'm a totally different person when I take my meds and my psychiatrist (I think that's the right word) wants me to start CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) which she described to me as a "way to change the thought patterns that cause my panic attacks so that they happen less" and when I asked my mom for clarification she said "it changes

[mymollypuppy]

I actually wrote my junior paper on this and some of the stuff I mentioned were in this video. The stigma against mental illness is a real thing. Thank you asapscience for this important video.

[MemesToa]

Building off of step 4, I actually heard somewhere that some shamanistic tribes actually see "mental illness" as a way to be better connected to the spirit world.

For example, having schizophrenia would mean you can see and hear the spirits, and the tribespeople will therefore begin training you to become the shaman of the tribe.

[lahdeedah]

I have a mental health issue and I still use terms like 'crazy' and 'insane'. Usually to describe overwhelmingly positive things, but I'm sure with a bit of training I can find better words to describe what I'm feeling. I was able to eliminate 'retarded' from my vocabulary so I'm sure I can do better here as well.

I realize some people find changing their words to be weird and maybe even threatening, but I see it as a challenge to be more inclusive and thoughtful. There are a lot of words in the English language. It's hardly the slippery slope that some people seems to think it is :p

[friendlyfrank]

Thank you for the video. I battled depression and anxiety for a long time before finally deciding enough is enough and sought help, with the help of my doctor and therapy for one month now I am already feeling the best I have in years and wish I'd done it sooner. Of course I was always put off by what other people would think... Now I realise who cares what they think? If you think you need help ASK for it! Don't be too proud and you won't regret it.

[mattinthehat]

The ad for the movie Split came on before this video... How fitting

[sadiealiers]

they should do a video on bisexually cause there seems to be a LOT of stigma around it from people thinking its fake or people calling them "greedy"

[metalsnakezero]

As someone who has a learning disability I thank you for this.

[javansegovia]

I have ADHD and recognizing it was life changing. I have learned so much about myself. I'm currently studying psychiatry and I can tell you, stigma is real even between us mental health proffesionals.

[Taanyaa]

I went through a period where I would feel extremely stressed and anxious, I was about to ask my mom to take me to therapy when she offered it herself. I went to therapy and immediately started feeling better and knowing more things about myself. I didn't feel ashamed at any point, I talked to my friends about it and how good it felt and they showed me their support :)

[graceanderson]

Thank you so much for making this video. As someone who has depression and anxiety I have felt the stigma for a long time and stuff like this helps raise awareness

[Merelxx]

I love that you made this video, stopping the stigma around mental health issues is something I find very important. Friends of mine with more severe mental health issues face daily judgment from the people around them and seeing how it breaks their heart and negatively influences their mental health can make me so sad and angry.

[gingerr]

Yessss! I just did a program at my school called imatter that's called "stomping out stigma" and we talked all about this to our grade nines. I really think it is important to start the discussion early to change people's views and let people know that it's ok to talk about it and go find help.

[funpheonix]

Thank you for this video <3 I have ADHD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression, and I've had friends that have autism and stuff like that as well and my birth mom has Bipolar Disorder. We're people too. Who cares if we're a bit different?