Take Action
Please use these resources to share, speak up, and get involved in educating others and reducing mental health stigma.
Be Open To Conversations About Mental Health
To reduce mental illness-related stigma, we need to feel comfortable having conversations about it. It used to be that cancer was “taboo” to talk about, but through open and honest conversations, cancer became de-stigmatized. The more we talk about mental health conditions, the more normalized it becomes. Starting the conversation is the first step.
Be Respectful With Language
Words are powerful—they can both heal and harm. Remind others that their language matters. It is so easy to refrain from using mental health conditions as adjectives and most people are willing to replace their usage of it with something else if you explain why their language is problematic.
Be Supportive Of Other People’s Struggle And Recovery
Supporting other people can be challenging, especially when you don’t understand their struggle. It’s hard to know what to say and sometimes it can feel like a lot of pressure. But your support can have life-saving repercussions, as feeling supported is one of the most essential aspects for a person in recovery.
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Be Active In Spreading Mental Health Awareness
The societal perception of mental illness won’t change if we don’t act to change it. It’s up to us to tell others what it means to experience a mental health condition. Mental illness is real, and it isn’t always in a person’s control. People who live with mental health conditions are not alone—there is hope.