What can you do to reduce mental health stigma?

In modern society, mental health is still something that is rarely talked about and those who suffer are often shamed. This is seen in celebrities with alarming frequency, with one of the biggest examples being Britney Spear’s mental breakdown in 2007. In order to make those who struggle with mental illness feel less alone and ashamed, it is important for people to start talking about mental health more openly, stop making suicide jokes, and for teachers and bosses to be more accepting to those with mental health issues.
Talking about mental health openly can be incredibly difficult, but even something as small as “oh, I’m actually meeting with my therapist after school” or “I'm worried about switching new meds; I hope everything goes smoothly!”. These short and casual comments can help depressed people feel like less of an outsider for taking meds or seeing a therapist. These comments can make people feel less alone.
Casual suicide jokes (i.e. “I have so much homework tonight I want to kill myself”) make people with histories of depression or suicidal thoughts feel inconceivably awful. These remarks may not have cruel intentions, but they can bring up incredibly dark memories and trauma for those struggling with depression. For too many people, suicidal thoughts are not a joke. People brave through weeks and months of sleepless nights and not feeling safe in their own body. Throwing suicide thoughts around as something to be laughed at is belittling the sometimes crippling struggle of depression and bringing up trauma that can be too much of a weight to bear.
Not only can mental health stigma be reduced among peers, but it can also be decreased by an increased acceptance from teachers and bosses. “Mental health days” should not be seen as a sign of weakness. Mental health leaves and mental health learning plans should become the norm. When one has the flu or mono, they are expected to take time off of work and school to get better, and mental health should be treated no differently.

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