Black Sheep Brainchild

“Mental Health.”

These words can invoke various feelings even within one individual.

In this country we have serious deficits for how we treat and even simply speak about mental health. This needs to change. For everyone’s sake.

There has been a trend of people being more and more open about their mental health struggles. I love this. It is taking back the power from those who seek to shame someone for things they cannot help. It is creating awareness for others to realize that they are not alone in this fight. It is gathering a community of people who understand and can support each other along the journey of mental health and related issues.

At least 1 in every 4 adults has a diagnosable mental disorder. One. In. Four. (Please note that statistics have actually increased due to the pandemic and other world issues from what the attached infographics say.) This is COMMON. This isn’t rare. This isn’t unheard of. You know AT LEAST one person dealing with a mental health disorder and chances are you know several. Look at your three closest friends. Among you, odds are at least one of you struggles with some sort of mental health issue and could use support. In many cases there are actually comorbidities and if you have one disorder you might be likely to have another. People with similar issues also tend to flock together so it may be that your entire group of friends struggles with their mental health – or at least more than the 1 in 4 statistic. 

So why do we shame it? Why do we try to sweep things under the rug and shush people who ask for help or ignore their struggles? This only forces those people in your life to suffer in silence. Thousands of people go without the help they so desperately could use because: they fear what those around them will think; they don’t know about or can’t easily access resources; their circle of people have made snide off-hand comments about mental health issues or people who are open about them and are therefore unsafe to speak to about their own struggles; they asked for help before and the reaction of the “trusted” individual was so awful that they vowed to themselves never to try again and so they just spiral, adrift when things could be so much better if they had some supports.

“People that talk about their disorders all of the time just want attention.” I have heard this. I have even had it tossed my way. 

I want you to really consider these words. Someone reaches out to you because they are struggling – they say they need help, they say they are lost and see no point in living anymore, they just need to talk – and you fire this phrase back at them (or they hear you say it about other people and you will now never be the one they go to). I have to ask – SO WHAT?! So what if they are wanting attention? So what if they are seeking support or acknowledgement about whatever is happening in their head? What is the worst that could happen if you actually responded with help and support if they were “just seeking attention”. You gave it to them, you gave them attention and showed concern – whoop dee doo. This “just seeking attention” is most often NOT the case when people do reach out – it is actually quite rare. But if that’s all they wanted and you gave it to them, what really have you lost?

Now, what happens if you ignore the plea for help? They could die. They could flounder and struggle against their disorder for YEARS beyond whatever would have been needed had you decided to believe them. They will miss any benefits immediate treatment could have given versus potential permanent issues delaying or not getting any help at all now cause. They could believe that they are making things up and no one cares and suffer severe traumas.

But what happens when they reach out and you respond with that phrase and they actually, truly needed you? YOU COULD SAVE THEIR LIFE! You could change it. For the better. You could help your friend or family member get whatever supports they need to be able to climb out of the hole they are trapped in and start to see the sunlight! You could help them do more than just survive – you could help them THRIVE. You could show that you care and understand just how important these things are. You could be part of the change we need.

Think about your words. Think about your reactions when people discuss mental health. What are you saying to those around you even if you aren’t speaking directly to them? What are you DOING when you are directly asked?