In every recovery story, there is strength, but too often stigma silences the voices of the mental health community. It’s time to declare that mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. Reclaim your story and share it proudly.
Mental health prejudice takes many forms.
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- Public Stigma – negative attitudes and beliefs from individuals or larger groups towards people with mental health conditions
- Self-Stigma – internalized shame, that people with mental illness may have about their own condition.
- Structural Stigma – laws and regulations that can limit the rights of those with mental health conditions
The harmful impact of this stigma can lead to reluctance to get help, social isolation and reduced hope. People with a substance use disorder are deeply impacted by the negative feelings about their disease.
In 2022, 54.6 million peole needed substance use treatment but merely 13.1 millino recieved support, according to the CDC.
It is difficult enough to take that first step toward recovery. Prejudices should never be a barrier. As mental health providers, CREOKS wants to change the narrative. Here are some tips to tackle these prejudices.
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- Talk candidly about mental health.
- Educate yourself and others. Kindly correct these misconceptions by sharing your personal experiences or facts.
- Normalize mental health treatment by being honest about it.
- Remind people that physical illness and mental illness are equal and often they correlate with each other.
- Be compassionate to those with a mental illness.
- Don’t let shame win. If you have a mental health condition, live your life to the fullest and don’t be afraid to discuss your illness.
Collective voices sharing their mental health story is the most powerful force to silence the stigma.