The
Stigma
It is well known that educating the public about prevention, early intervention, and treatment can be beneficial to public health.
Yet, these same measures taken to educate people about physical health have not been taken with mental health. Lack of public education contributes to the stigma that surrounds mental health. Mental health stigma is the unfair and negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes that people have about mental illness. The stigma surrounding mental health in our society prevents those in need from seeking help before their need becomes dire.
Early intervention can prevent tragedies such as suicide in all age groups and ethnicities. It can also prevent many juveniles from becoming delinquents and incarcerated, adults from becoming homeless and drug addicted, help the elderly cope with depression, preventing alcohol misuse and untimely deaths. Sadly, early intervention is often not sought out because those who seek mental health help are labeled and looked at as being less than human.
To end the stigma surrounding mental health, it's important to approach it unapologetically. Many people remain uninformed about mental health and only understand it through movies and TV shows. Addressing real-world issues like the societal cost, daily struggles, relationship and workplace challenges, lack of funding, and difficulties faced by crisis centers and psychiatric hospitals would help the public better understand and support mental health. By raising this awareness, people would be more willing to seek help, and society would be more accepting. Just as addiction and cancer have gained awareness through media coverage, mental health should receive the same attention to help save lives.