Because Mental Health X Humanity In Health: Mental Health Awareness
Hi! My name is Sree Saripalli and I’m the founder of Humanity In Health. In honor of collaborating with Because Mental Health, I’m going to be talking about mental health awareness in today’s blog post.
My first experience learning about mental health was quite a positive one. I remember learning about the different mental challenges people face when I was in around 6th or 7th grade through a school seminar that covered topics such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and many more. Openness, acceptance, and compassion were highly encouraged, and I left the seminar feeling like someone had shown me a completely different side to human health. I was immediately intrigued and wanted to learn more. Through books, movies, and social media, I started to gain a first hand perspective of what it is like to live with a mental disorder or a personality disorder. When I took AP Psychology my junior year of high school, I was able to learn more about these disorders from a scientific view point.
But how exactly do we communicate with those who are struggling with a mental illness?
Below are 8 things to do that support someone with a mental illness outlined by Mental Health Foundation:
Set time aside with no distractions
Let them share as much or as little as they want
Don’t try to diagnose or second guess their feelings
Keep questions open ended
Talk about well being
Listen carefully to what they tell you
Offer them help in seeking professional support and provide information on ways to do this
Know your limits
A more detailed explanation of the 8 things to do can be found on the Mental Health Foundation website linked here: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/supporting-someone-mental-health-problem
While it can be helpful to know what to do when communicating with someone facing mental health challenges, it is important to conversely know what NOT to say. Aruma provides a comprehensive “10 things not to say to someone with a mental illness” list outlined below.
“It’s all in your head”
“Come on, things could be worse!”
“Snap out of it!”
“But you have a great life, you always seem so happy!”
“Have you tried chamomile tea?”
“Everyone is a little down/moody/OCD sometimes - it's totally normal.”
“This too shall pass.”
“It’s all part of God’s plan.”
“Just try to be positive!”
“Suicide is so selfish.”
A more detailed explanation of the list can be found here: https://www.aruma.com.au/about-us/blog/10-things-not-to-say-to-someone-with-a-mental-illness/
When someone has a fever, we can measure their temperature. With a cold, we see them cough or sneeze. When someone has a broken arm, we can perform surgery and we see the cast. We may even sign it to show our support! However, mental health is a unique aspect of health that is not always so easily visible. It can be hard to demonstrate cultural competence, empathy, and clear communication when addressing such situations. Hopefully, this article helps you or a friend in need!
By: Sreenidhi Saripalli
