Mental Health Awareness Days are making stigma worse, not better.
Has anyone ever been excited about attending a mental health awareness day? Full disclosure: I’ve helped organize days like this, and even I wasn’t excited to attend.
Usually, it's aimed at raising awareness about the prevalence and symptoms of mental health disorders. The goal is to end stigma so people will speak up and get treatment.
But here's the thing:
Just telling people how big the problem is actually makes stigma worse. We walk away feeling a quiet despair about how big the problem really is and how small our available solutions are.
Why? Stigma is perpetuated by mystery and fear.
So when we tell people how big the problem is but we don't explain WHY the problem got so big and HOW we're going to fix it makes the mystery and fear worse.
Think about it... When you break a bone or a tree falls on your house, there's no stigma because everyone understands what just happened and how to fix it.
But when you experience a traumatic reaction, a mental health crisis or a "nervous breakdown" suddenly it's shrouded in shame and secrecy. Why? Because no one knows what just happened, and they're scared.
So what if we didn’t spend any time talking about global statistics or categories of disorders or new medications that don’t work or mental health hotlines staffed by well-meaning but helpless people who will never be a genuine part of your life?
What if it was a day to learn and practice skills for managing difficult emotions?
What if it was a day to understand and share who we are on a deeper level?
What if it was a day to build connections and friendships in our work, school and community?
What if it was a day to learn about how our brain and nervous system works?
What if it was a day where we walked away feeling more grounded, purposeful and connected?
We need to explain what mental health actually IS and how to build a mentally healthy society.
And how to cultivate a mentally healthy life and then It will be a lot less scary and confusing when someone breaks a bone or has a tree fall on them -- mentally and emotionally speaking
And everyone can come together and bring over a casserole, pick up their groceries and help them rebuild.
That’s a day I’d be excited to show up to.
In resilience,
Caitlin