Talking about mental health is seen with a stigma for most part of the world. With very few people opening up about mental health, there is little awareness about what it is to have a good mental health. When someone is physically ill, illness is visible and they are treated immediately. But it is not so when it comes to mental health. Sometimes there is no telling sign and even the person with poor mental health himself may not be aware of. So, by the time, he realizes that he is in need of help, a decade has already easily passed.
But what is shocking is that findings show that there is a whopping number of people suffering from poor mental health. The number so huge that we could even be a common phenomenon. Yet it is one of the tabooed topics leading to a “It couldn’t be me” mindset in a person, that it is almost a decade before he gets the right help.
Incidentally, if a person shows mental conditions such as frequent anger, irritability or inattentiveness, they are often spoken ill about. They are perceived to be bad and are often boxed off into the list of negative people. People sometimes openly show their disgust or they show in subtle ways of ignoring. Both reactions are noticed regardless adding to the already preconceived stigma.
Moreover, people who are in the grip of a mental condition find it difficult to open up. Because sometimes they themselves are confused about what they are going through. Other times, there is fear of being disgraced, disregarded and blamed that they hadn’t tried. After all, feeling understood is one of the basic feelings to a good mental health, not feeling understood aggravates their state.
If mental health is spoken about more openly without stigma and bias, many would have a much better chance to a better living. Each person would then have the chance to express freely their emotions, problems and what they are going through. This is my opinion would solve a major block towards progressing. With more people being aware of symptoms, what to do and how to help someone who has deteriorating mental health, we would all be a progressing together. Also, if we are inclusive, half the sufferer’s problem is already solved. The rest might just get alright. Or else, the person would no longer have inhibition to seeking medical attention. Why not be inclusive, when we can be stronger together and beat the hidden demon together?