Mental Health Matters
Mental health. It's a topic that's not openly talked about by many. It's something that 1 in 5 adults struggle with and an issue that is rapidly growing within youth today. It's a conversation that makes people uncomfortable. But why?
I've struggled with depression and anxiety since I was an adolescent. Being a victim of bullying, having trust issues, and get made fun of for my racial background didn't help the situation either. I would get anxiety attacks every week and would struggle to find the motivation to get out of bed in the morning. When I was officially diagnosed I was put on medication and saw a therapist regularly. A year and a half later I can say that I'm doing a lot better than I was when I first got diagnosed. Now that's not to say that I've been cured because I'll always have depression and anxiety, but now it's more manageable.
Sadly, there's been a stigma that has been attached to the topic of mental health. People show prejudicial attitudes and discriminating behavior towards individuals with mental health problems as a result of the label they've been given. This stigma has to do with the lack of education in our society around the discussion of mental health. Just because someone is on medication doesn't mean they're crazy without them. Just because someone has depression doesn't mean they are going to commit suicide. OCD isn't just being super organized and clean. Not all schizophrenics are locked up in padded cells. Just because someone has a mental health issues doesn't mean they aren't human.
So take the time to educate yourself on the issues regarding mental health. It's important that people feel comfortable sharing their stories and hardships. We as a community need to make an environment where people feel safe being themselves, safe expressing what they're going through, and supported by everyone they come in contact. Because after all, mental health matters.
Comments
Post a Comment