At this point in the semester, many students reach a critical crossroads: do we continue trying to cope with stress and anxiety on our own or do we need more help? There are many resources available for us on campus and online, but it takes courage and determination to reach out for help outside the Internet or family or friends. While there are resources such as a quiz to see if therapy would help you, it is ultimately a personal decision as to whether or not external help is needed. This blog post is designed to address concerns about therapy and the stigmas surrounding it.
Why We Are Afraid
In our society, people are beginning to speak out more about mental health issues and raise awareness for the challenges people often had faced alone. However, we still have a long way to go in ensuring that people with mental illnesses understand that they are not alone, broken, or weak. In his TED Talk, “Confessions of a Depressed Comic,” Kevin Breel acknowledges that he was once embarrassed by his mental illness and that it kept him stuck in a dark place for a lot of his life. His solution, though, was encouraging people with mental illness to stand together and fight for themselves against the stigma against them. When people recognize that they are only sick and that they can find help and assistance and support from others, it makes a world of difference. Sometimes, this can be the difference between life and death.
Figure 1. National Alliance on Mental Illness. You Are Not Alone.
I have struggled with mental illness throughout my life and I have visited a therapist for anxiety as well as OCD. I am blessed with a supportive family who encouraged me to seek help and who had sought out help themselves in times of need. However, if they did not have the courage to take me to therapy or to tell me that I can get better, I feel that I would be in a much different place. Now, my struggles pale in comparison to those some other students experience, but I would like to hope that being able to share about mental illness will help others in need to speak out and seek help. It is clear that many people are too afraid or too stuck to reach out, which is not just sad–it’s something we need to fix as a society. One in five adults has a mental health condition, but only 43% of them actually get treatment for their conditions. Less than half of adults get treated! This might be due to parents and friends saying, “tomorrow will be better” or “you’re just having a rough week” or “just cry it out,” or it could be due to a fear of future judgement from others. I’ve noticed that it is quite difficult to acknowledge mental health issues in front of others because most people react with snap judgments of what they think they know rather than reacting with questions or concerns about the individual’s personal experience. If there is one thing I know to be true about mental health, it is that every single person has a completely different experience that certainly cannot be generalized or stereotyped.
Figure 2. Collins, Julianne. Anatomy of a Good Therapist.
How to Fight the Stigma
- Recognize that everyone gets sick: Everyone has times where they need medical care, and it is in those times of vulnerability that we grow stronger and healthier.
- Speak up as students: Tell other people when you can relate to their struggles, even when it feels embarrassing. This article by Ashley Lessa encourages students to have mental health conversations with friends so that friends do not miss out on therapy or help provided by colleges and universities. If we can acknowledge when times are bad and when we need help, then we can emerge stronger as a generation, a generation who can talk about shared struggles without embarrassment or fear.
- Go to therapy: It may be difficult to find a local therapist while distance-learning, but there are many resources through CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) through Penn State University. If money is an issue, many insurance plans provide mental health coverage.
- Keep up with it: Whether you decide to follow up with the same therapist, or whether you need to reevaluate because your first few sessions didn’t feel quite right, it’s important to stay in contact with some professional. Good therapists are out there, and it’s okay to search a few times before you find your favorite.
- Recognize emergency situations: Keep the following numbers in an accessible location, if possible. When you can tell that you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call the appropriate number, even if you are scared. You could save someone’s life.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) HelpLine: 800-950-NAMI (6264)
DON’T FORGET, in an immediate emergency: 911
It is incredibly normal to struggle with mental illness, and it is incredibly normal to feel embarrassed about them. One of these things can change–I hope that in the near future, the embarrassment will be a thing of the past.
I have written many papers about mental illnesses and how the stigma has decreased recently. I struggled with anxiety and saw a therapist for it but my situation was minor compared to others. I love that people are more accepting and supportive for people who do struggle everyday with mental illnesses. I loved how you provided steps on how to prevent stigma and I think it could truly help someone. Having zero judgement for mental illnesses will allow people to feel strong enough to seek help and recognize their situation.
Wow, this is an incredibly moving post. I appreciate how vulnerable you were in it and know that this post will make others feel more ready to share their stories. I am curious and concerned about how those who were seeking therapy at Penn State will be able to access it now that we are off campus.