The importance of reducing stigma around mental health

Having mental health issues is hard. But pretending that you are not struggling, is harder.

The consequences of a brave face:

It is exhausting to keep up a brave face and easier to be honest.
You will not seek the help that you need.
You do not feel safe around others, especially your employer.
You worry about being judged.
You do not receive support from friends and family
You may keep pushing yourself to breaking point.

How to reduce stigma:

Educate yourself about mental health issues.
When you realise it is not your fault, it is easier to focus on solutions.
Read up on statistics. 1 in 3 Australians will experience mental illness at some stage of their life so you do not need to feel alone or exceptional.
Educate the people in your life about mental health and statistics.
Find others going through the same thing.
Explore the stories of people who share their personal stories including role models such as athletes. You will discover that mental health struggles can happen to the best of us and do not discriminate.

What to do next:

Now you can admit to having a problem, think about what you need to do about it.
If you need professional help, find appropriate treatment.
Your GP is usually your best source of diagnosis and information to start.
If your GP encourages you to see a psychologist, follow it through.
Put your wellbeing above all else. Naomi Osaka has been a role model of this in recent days when she bowed out of the French Open to prioritise her mental health. She demonstrated to the world that nothing is more important than our wellbeing and only we can be responsible for ourselves. Naomi proved that she will not be swayed by what people say, nor their judgments, nor even the millions she may have earned.

What we offer:

At Anxiety Solutions CBT Psychology Practice, we provide a safe space for you to receive gold standard psychological treatment. We do not judge anyone, and we do not prescribe lifestyles. We are here to teach you skills to cope and a supportive environment so you can thrive. We offer individual and group sessions. Joining a group is a great way to reduce stigma. You will learn that your experience is common and that there are solutions.

Contact us or call us on 0293285899 to learn more.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez / unsplash.com

By Renee Mill|2022-07-11T14:41:42+10:00June 22nd, 2021|Mental Health|

About the Author: Renee Mill

Renee Mill -- Anxiety Solutions CBT Director, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Supervisor and Best Selling Author -- has counseled hundreds of individuals, couples and families for over 30 years. She cares deeply about her clients and has created a warm and safe environment for all thrive. Renee has worked intensely on creating a new technique for dealing with generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety, fear of public speaking, performance anxiety and panic attacks. Renee’s other key areas of interest are depression, relationships and couple therapy, self-worth, parenting, resilience and well-being. Renee has published 3 best selling books and lectured in Australia, China, Israel, the United States and South Africa. She is well known on the speaker’s circuit and is often called upon by the media for her professional opinion. To hear Renee’s interviews or read her articles have a look at our Media Section.