Take a moment to read the above article. It’s a worthwhile read. While some things have improved, there’s a long way to go in terms of how mental health is treated and perceived in America (and the world as a whole).
Most of this article looks at mental health and some of the connections to things like violent crime etc, but I’d rather focus on the stigma and perception half. Mental health conjures some rather negative views to most folks. The word I hear most is “crazy” or “imaginary”. Both terms are grossly slanted views of what mental health really means for most folks. Don’t misunderstand, I realize there are some very serious cases of mental illness such as schizophrenia and dissociative disorder which may require hospitalization but for most people the common mental health issues include depression, anxiety and addiction disorders.
For the more common cases of mental health issues the biggest hurdle is getting help and it’s not easy. Sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom before you seek out professional help. If you’re on the fence about it please I urge you see your doctor, see a therapist to get your issues out in the open at the very least. The road to recover can be a difficult one but I can tell you that the longer you wait the harder it is.
