Mental health is not something to take lightly. Mental disorders can be debilitating and restraining. Mental disorders are so common that according to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, 43.8 million adults in America suffer from a mental illness each year. There are all types of disorders, but the most common are depression and anxiety. If they are so common, though, why is it that we are afraid to talk about them?
As one of those 43.8 million adults who suffer from a mental illness, I don’t understand the stigma against them. For most of my life, I have suffered with what doctors now know are bipolar disorder type II and anxiety. And for the almost eight years I have suffered from them, I have always had to try and hide them—no matter how poor of a job I did. Looking back, I realize that I did such a poor job of hiding my disorders because I felt as though I shouldn’t have had to hide them. Nobody should.
So why is there a stigma against it? The number one reason is because we as humans care too much about what other people think. We are constantly worrying that someone is talking poorly about our clothes or hair, we are constantly worrying that the cute guy at the coffee shop doesn’t think we’re cute, and guys are constantly worrying about if they’re macho enough for society’s taste. From a young age, people make fun of one another, calling each other “crazy” or “stupid.” People are almost always talking about somebody else, whether they are saying bad or good. So those who suffer—especially from an anxiety disorder—are terrified that people will have more reason to think he or she is crazy. We care too much that someone might know about our disorder and then talk smack behind our backs.
Another reason for the stigma, one that I believe is probably the biggest reason behind it, is that nobody knows what to do or say when a loved one tells you how bad we’re suffering. It’s hard for those who have not been depressed before to console someone who is. But why? In 2011, the United States was home to over 552,000 mental health professionals and from the 1,791,000 college graduates from the class of 2012, over 109,000 earned a degree in psychology. That’s not even considering those currently studying psychology. So, if we have so many mental health professionals, and so many educated in psychology, why is it that most don’t know what to do?
The only way to fix the mental health stigma is to educate. Psychology classes should be mandatory in high school, not just one chapter to be glossed over in ninth grade health. Higher-level psychology classes should also be mandatory in college, not just general psych. If more people actually understood mental disorders, those who suffer might feel more comfortable talking about their disorders and asking for help. We—those who suffer—need to be able to feel comfortable talking to our friends, family and co-workers about it without the fear of being judged. If we were able to talk about it, and if you knew how to help your loved one, maybe the mental health stigma will dissipate.
