HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – May is Mental Health Awareness Month and one of the main reasons why it exists it to not only draw attention to mental health, but to reduce the stigma surrounding it.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Britt Young joined HNN Sunrise to discuss the importance of reducing stigma, she says that it actually runs deeper than many realize.
According to research, 50% of adults say they wouldn’t date someone with a mental illness and 30% of adults still think that depression is caused by a weak personality.
Being that one in four Americans has a diagnosable mental health disorder, Young says the statistics are really concerning.
She shared that in another survey, 56% of respondents told researched they don’t want to socialize with someone who has a mental illness.
“If you think people won’t like you because you have have a mental disorder, then you’re more likely to keep it private or isolate,” Young said. “And, isolation exacerbates mental illness.”
WATCH: Ending the Silence: Breaking Mental Health Stigma
Research also shows that 86% of people don’t do things they want to do because they’re afraid people will find out they have a mental disorder. This includes seeking help, telling friends or family, and looking for a job.
“But frankly, they’re justified in being a little nervous,” Young said.
Another factor that plays a role in stigma is the disconnect between generations. Young pointed out that older generations tend to keep things to themselves in comparison to the young people because they were raised to not show weakness.
While it may be hard to break out of old habits and mindsets, Young says it’s not impossible.
Here are some ways to start fighting back against stigmas surrounding mental health:
- Humanize the issue: Listen to people’s stories about their struggle with mental illness and realize they’re just human, like us.
- Learn about mental illness: Dig into the data and discover that mental illness isn’t a weakness of character, but a real physiological disorder.
- Remember: Everyone deserves respect and judging others only perpetuates discrimination.
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress, call or text 988.
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