In today’s society, mental health issues are becoming more and more relevant. We see so many tragedies on the news; which sadly, seem to becoming a normal description of someone with mental illness. We like to categorize some of these people as weak, uniformed or indigent people, however, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human service, “one in 25 American adults live with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.” That’s a lot of people considering there are 321 million people in the United States alone, which is why raising awareness during Mental Health Awareness Week is crucial.
How to Raise Awareness for Mental Health Awareness Week
Not enough people are talking about these issues. People with mental health problems experience stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion that significantly impact on their lives, including the fear that they may be violent; in-turn creating self-doubt and shame.
Here are five important things we can to do reduce stigma:
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Know the Facts
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Educate yourself about mental health problems. The U.S. Department of Health & Human services (http://www.mentalhealth.gov) is a great place to start.
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
Nelson Mandala
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Be Aware of Your Attitudes and Behavior
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See people as human beings, not as labels or stereotypes. See the person beyond their mental illness; they are so much more than their diagnosis. The way to change the stigma can start by changing the way we think!
Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality.
Nikos Kazantzakis
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Educate Others
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Find opportunities to pass on facts about people with mental health problems. If friends, family, or even the media present information that is not true, challenge their myths and stereotypes. Let them know how their negative words and incorrect descriptions affect people with mental illness by keeping alive the false ideas.
No one is serviced or benefitted by believing in false or faulty ideas
Brendan Myers
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Focus on the Positive
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People with mental health or substance abuse problems make valuable contributions to society. Their health problems are just one part of their story. We’ve all heard the negative stories, let’s recognize the positive ones!
Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results
Willie Nelson
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Encourage and Support
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Treat people with mental health problems with dignity and respect. Think about how you’d like others to act toward you if you were in the same situation. Everybody usually knows someone who has been affected by mental health issues. Support their choices and encourage their efforts to get well.
Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you
Misty Copeland
Mental Health Treatment at Morningside Recovery
Morningside Recovery is proud to support mental health awareness week by being a premier facility ahead of its time in the mental health and substance abuse field. We offer many mental health treatment options for disorders such as like depression, anxiety, bipolar, borderline personality disorder, etc. Additionally, we offer drug addiction treatment options and dual diagnosis treatments. Master’s level therapists and higher facilitate groups to dig into issues that help Infamous around Morningside’s clinical campus are inspiring quotes that can be spotted among the walls to encourage clients to be the best they can be and to not let their issues define them.
If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health or addiction don’t stay quiet; help break the stigma of mental health illness.
Call today at 855-631-2135.