Mental health is still a very big problem. Every day, one in five adults deals with some form of mental illness. Of the approximately 43.8 million adults affected, only 17.5 percent receive treatment of some kind. People can get help in many different forms including but not limited to counseling, medication or a combination of the two.
While there are services available, many remain unused. One issue surrounding this is the stigma that comes with having a mental illness. For many people who wish to seek help, they face harmful backlash from strangers, peers, friends and family.
When we are told our feeling are invalid by our trusted loved ones, we start to feel guilty. We start to bottle up our emotions rather than moving forward with the healing process. Eventually, all this builds up and we start to fall apart. We can only hold in so much emotions before we’re overwhelmed. It isn’t healthy to let things bother us for so long. We may think it’s necessary to hold everything together and act strong for the sake of our jobs, social life or school. Even the strongest people need a moment to recover from everyday stresses.
A lot of people say they are depressed or anxious, but then recognize there’s no need for it given their overall living conditions or circumstances. A lot of people may have it worse. However, that doesn’t make what you’re feeling any less valid.
Mental illness does not discriminate. There are external factors that contribute. While people living in poverty or in volatile situations are more likely to be unhappy. But conditions change and some people remain unhappy. It may be an attribute of our personalities. Some people have hormonal disorders that cause mental illness as well. For example, I have faced depression issues time and time again.
That being said, I was raised in an upper-middle-class family. We rarely struggled to have anything. We always had food, shelter and heat. My parents gave me anything I needed and more. They never beat me or abused me in any way. We took regular vacations. I was able to travel with my school to Europe. I’ve never struggled with any external issues. However, I still fight depression every day due to a physical disorder that prevents my body from producing hormones reliably.
So not everyone has to have specific external conditions to be depressed. I know there’s help out there. But it’s not exactly easy to get to, continue getting to and expose our weaknesses to our peers. I also have fallen victim to the idea that help isn’t worth getting due to the judgment I already face simply for having mental health issues.
Help can’t come in one single form. Our problems are unique and the help we get has to be just as unique. For example, for some people taking an antidepressant helps phenomenally. For others, simply meeting with an advisor or counseling services helps. Others find relief in art, music, books, exercise or nature. Even turning to a friend or family member to distract ourselves can be beneficial.
We all are unique people with unique problems and we need unique treatment to overcome our struggles. There are so many beautiful things and people in the world to help you through the toughest of times. There are people who care despite the judgment that we may face in our journey to a happier life.
Regardless of what kind of help is best suited for you, there should be a way to access it without facing the stigma of being mentally ill. We rarely judge someone for trying to get over a cold. Why do we judge so many people for trying to take care of their mind?
