Mental health feels like a personal thing, right? The only person who really knows your own brain is you. But on World Mental Health Day today, we all get a (probably much-needed) reminder that we’re not in this alone.
People all across the world deal with their own mental health challenges. That means that you can make a difference not just for yourself, but for the world at large, when you open up about your mental health struggles. As the World Health Organization (WHO) says, the purpose of World Mental Health Day is to “raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health.”
Wanna be a part of that? Let’s get started.
Busting stigmas in honor of the holiday
Mental health can feel like a daunting issue. Everyone experiences mental illness in their own way and treatment that works for one person might not work for another.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be a medical professional or a mental health authority to be a part of making progress. Today is an awesome opportunity to bust stigmas around mental illness.
We’ve already come a long way here. We’ve moved away from making fun of people for feeling anxious or thinking that depression just means you feel sad sometimes. Millennials feel twice as comfortable as baby boomers talking about their mental health in the workplace. In short, we’ve made major strides.
But the work isn’t over. We need to keep pushing toward a world where people see mental illness as something that’s just as important as physical illness. Maybe more importantly, we need to get to a place where we all know that mental health challenges aren’t our fault.
Checking your own self-stigma
Most of us would agree that there shouldn’t be any stigma or discrimination around mental illness. But then we deal with mental health challenges ourselves. And it’s easy to be self-critical. You might tell yourself to “snap out of it” or that “it’s not a big deal.” You might think you caused your symptoms or that you deserve them.
Stop it, friend! On World Mental Health Day today, we’re giving you a challenge. Pay attention to your internal narrative. Are you saying things about yourself that you wouldn’t say to a friend? If so, cut it out! We know that’s easier said than done, but we all have to start somewhere. Check yourself for self-stigma. And when you come up against it, gently remind yourself that you’re doing your best. Because you are.
Your mental health journey might get raw sometimes, but it can be sweet, too. Be kind to yourself and don’t be afraid to open up to a friend. The more we talk about it, the easier this will get for all of us.
Hey, maybe have the chat over a pint of Doughp. Two spoons and a raw conversation could be the perfect way to celebrate World Mental Health Day.
For more support, we recommend checking out the crisis text line, which connects you to a counselor, or BetterHelp for online therapy. Or if you’re a woman and you want to start your recovery journey to better your mental health, look into the SHE RECOVERS Foundation.
