Did you know many people suffer from the stigma that builds around mental health? These types of beliefs and negative thoughts affect a person’s mental health illness or treatment. However, this stigma can be broken with some simple steps. Learn what mental health stigma is and how to break the stigma in this article. Visit the best Mental Health Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org.

Understanding the stigma around mental illness

Stigma is something that affects others’ views (about you) negatively because you have different characteristics or personal traits that look or seem like a disadvantage. These types of attitudes and beliefs toward people with mental health conditions are common. Many people have myths about mental health and view it as a sign of weakness or a personal failure. This stigma can lead to discrimination, judgment, and isolation for those grappling with mental health challenges. It may affect people consciously and unconsciously. It may be experienced in 3 forms, including:

• Public: Discrimination and devaluation by others can cause stigma based on stereotypes of people with behavioral health conditions. These stereotypes and actions can affect someone’s job prospects, housing decisions, and even the quality of healthcare that they receive.
• Systemic: Lower access to care and resources due to policies makes these stigmas exist due to public stereotypes also embodied in laws, institutions, and organizations that regulate or influence society. While public stigma only affects individuals or smaller groups, systemic stigma affects large people groups.
• Self: Internalization of negative stereotypes can affect a person’s self-esteem and self-efficacy which leads to persistent doubt and hopelessness.

Breaking the stigma

There are several steps you can use to break the stigma around mental health:

1. Educate yourself about mental health:

Becoming aware of negative stereotypes that create problems around the mental health of individuals is the best strategy to combat the negative stereotypes. To build awareness, you need to gain knowledge about mental health issues, the symptoms linked with them, and the treatment choices that are needed to deal with them. You can also contribute positively by improving misinformation and confusion that frequently occurs around mental health issues by increasing your understanding level.

2. Speak out:

Speaking out about personal experiences with mental health is the best way to break the stigma. It helps to normalize the stigma built around mental health and encourage other people to do the same. You can do that by giving your opinions at events, in letters to the editor, or on the Internet. It also encourages others to face their challenges and educate others about mental illness.

3. Use inclusive language:

You should use language that is inclusive when you discuss issues related to mental health to ensure an open environment for those who are struggling with it. It is also helpful to avoid words or phrases that stigmatize or stereotype mental health issues.

4. Join a support group:

Some local and national groups offer local programs and internet resources that help to reduce stigma by educating people who have mental illness, their families, and the general public. You can also support the campaigns for mental health policies, donate to organizations that work to improve mental health, or participate in events that bring awareness to mental health issues.

5. Normalize the act of seeking care:

You should encourage others to have an open conversation about treatment. So, they seek care when they feel they need it and share information about services available for mental health in the community.

Be mindful of your words

There are some common stigmatic words you can use to avoid or replace with other words so that it doesn’t cause negative thoughts about people with mental health conditions:

• Instead of saying ‘crazy,’ use the phrase an individual has a ‘mental illness’.
• Instead of saying ‘addict,’ ‘user,’ ‘junkie,’ or ‘drug or substance abuser,’ use the phrase ‘person with substance use disorder.’
• Instead of saying ‘alcoholic,’ or ‘drunk,’ use a phrase like ‘person with alcohol disorder’ or ‘a person who misuses alcohol.’
• Instead of saying ‘former or reformed addict,’ use a phrase like ‘person in recovery.’
• Instead of saying ‘commit suicide,’ use a phrase like ‘lost his/her life to suicide.’

Breaking the stigma for mental health issues required support, dedication, understanding, and collective effort. By having open conversations, embracing therapy, supporting peer networks, practicing self-care, and educating future generations to create a society where mental health is given proper importance and seeking support is seen as an act of strength. Addressing personal challenges and recognizing the value of mental well-being is a path toward growth, resilience, and a healthier future.

Need help with mental health awareness, visit our behavioral health clinic in Brooklyn where professionals guide you about mental health issues and ways to seek support for patients with mental health issues. Call us to get a consultation now!!!

Book your appointment with the best mental health professionals in Brooklyn; our doctors and staff ensure you get the best results. Call us on +1-347-384-5690 to get a consultation. If you need help learning coping methods, register your information and make direct contact with our doctors and psychiatrists to learn those methods, log on to www.doralhw.org. Visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.