Comments on: Stop Yourself And Others From Promoting Mental Health Stigma http://www.blisstree.com/articles/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma-234/ Family, Health, Home and Lifestyles Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:23:11 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: c http://www.blisstree.com/articles/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma-234/comment-page-1/#comment-104860 c Sat, 21 Feb 2009 04:58:49 +0000 http://www.mentalhealthnotes.com/2008/09/08/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma/#comment-104860 Fabulous article. More should become active in the awareness of mental health stigmas; it tends to turn into a form of discrimination and hostile treatment amongst the mental health care facilities. Fabulous article. More should become active in the awareness of mental health stigmas; it tends to turn into a form of discrimination and hostile treatment amongst the mental health care facilities.

]]> By: Alicia Sparks, Mental Health Notes http://www.blisstree.com/articles/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma-234/comment-page-1/#comment-104058 Alicia Sparks, Mental Health Notes Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:06:19 +0000 http://www.mentalhealthnotes.com/2008/09/08/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma/#comment-104058 @ Kat - Thanks so much for sharing your story. I think everyone's been guilty of using those kinds of names/words. I'd be lying if I said I never had. Heck, I'd be lying if I said there weren't still times when I get so frustrated or angry or shocked by someone's behavior, things they've said, etc., that I'll say something like that (in conversation with another person, or just to myself). I've gotten really good at immediately following up with, "You know what? Let me not even say or think that. I know better." And you're completely right. There is a delicate balance, and in all kinds of situations, such as that with your daughter. You know your daughter. You know what she deals with. You know that working to manage her mental health makes her no different from any other human. We all have brains and minds at risk of health problems. But you also know that not everyone is educated enough about mental health, or sensitive enough, or compassionate enough, to know the things you know. I think you handle it wonderfully. I'd no doubt handle it the same way. And, when your daughter gets older and has more experience in handling it (the situation as a whole), I'm sure she'll be experienced, and comfortable, and "grown up" enough to make those kinds of decisions (about telling people, or not) thanks to you :) @ Kat – Thanks so much for sharing your story. I think everyone’s been guilty of using those kinds of names/words. I’d be lying if I said I never had. Heck, I’d be lying if I said there weren’t still times when I get so frustrated or angry or shocked by someone’s behavior, things they’ve said, etc., that I’ll say something like that (in conversation with another person, or just to myself). I’ve gotten really good at immediately following up with, “You know what? Let me not even say or think that. I know better.”

And you’re completely right. There is a delicate balance, and in all kinds of situations, such as that with your daughter. You know your daughter. You know what she deals with. You know that working to manage her mental health makes her no different from any other human. We all have brains and minds at risk of health problems. But you also know that not everyone is educated enough about mental health, or sensitive enough, or compassionate enough, to know the things you know. I think you handle it wonderfully. I’d no doubt handle it the same way. And, when your daughter gets older and has more experience in handling it (the situation as a whole), I’m sure she’ll be experienced, and comfortable, and “grown up” enough to make those kinds of decisions (about telling people, or not) thanks to you :)

]]> By: Round Up Of The Top 5 Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate http://www.blisstree.com/articles/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma-234/comment-page-1/#comment-104051 Round Up Of The Top 5 Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:21:19 +0000 http://www.mentalhealthnotes.com/2008/09/08/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma/#comment-104051 [...] One: Stop Yourself And Others From Promoting Mental Health Stigma. People with any kind of illness - mental illness included - are up against a lot. Refraining from [...] [...] One: Stop Yourself And Others From Promoting Mental Health Stigma. People with any kind of illness – mental illness included – are up against a lot. Refraining from [...]

]]> By: Kat http://www.blisstree.com/articles/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma-234/comment-page-1/#comment-104046 Kat Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:42:44 +0000 http://www.mentalhealthnotes.com/2008/09/08/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma/#comment-104046 This is a delicate balance we try to walk with our 12-year-old daughter, who has depression and has been medicated for much of her childhood. It's a pretty normal thing around our house, but she has had some bad experiences in confiding to friends that she takes depression medication. That leaves us walking a delicate line and having to say, "There's nothing to be embarrassed about, but you shouldn't tell people, because they might not understand." That never feels good enough to me, but I also want to protect her from other people's rudeness. We've kind of swtiched to, "It's none of anyone else's business, so don't bring it up, but if there's a reason to tell someone, you don't have to be embarrassed." I think that works better, and there have been times when my daughter has recognized depression in some of her peers and talked to them about it, knowing full well that some people have freaky reactions (freaky isn't stigmatizing, is it?). She isn't afraid to bring it up when it's important, but besides that, she mostly keeps it to herself. And I confess that I have used the terms "whack job" and "nut job" when referring to certain politicians...and you're right, it's wrong. I'll stop, since it's not their mental health I object to but their ideas. Kat This is a delicate balance we try to walk with our 12-year-old daughter, who has depression and has been medicated for much of her childhood. It’s a pretty normal thing around our house, but she has had some bad experiences in confiding to friends that she takes depression medication. That leaves us walking a delicate line and having to say, “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, but you shouldn’t tell people, because they might not understand.”

That never feels good enough to me, but I also want to protect her from other people’s rudeness. We’ve kind of swtiched to, “It’s none of anyone else’s business, so don’t bring it up, but if there’s a reason to tell someone, you don’t have to be embarrassed.”

I think that works better, and there have been times when my daughter has recognized depression in some of her peers and talked to them about it, knowing full well that some people have freaky reactions (freaky isn’t stigmatizing, is it?). She isn’t afraid to bring it up when it’s important, but besides that, she mostly keeps it to herself.

And I confess that I have used the terms “whack job” and “nut job” when referring to certain politicians…and you’re right, it’s wrong. I’ll stop, since it’s not their mental health I object to but their ideas.

Kat

]]> By: Get Involved With Mental Health Politics http://www.blisstree.com/articles/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma-234/comment-page-1/#comment-104041 Get Involved With Mental Health Politics Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:10:24 +0000 http://www.mentalhealthnotes.com/2008/09/08/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma/#comment-104041 [...] series here at Mental Health Notes comes to an end today, and so far you’ve read about stopping mental health stigma, getting involved with mental health advocacy and research organizations as well as mental health [...] [...] series here at Mental Health Notes comes to an end today, and so far you’ve read about stopping mental health stigma, getting involved with mental health advocacy and research organizations as well as mental health [...]

]]> By: Educate Yourself And Others About Mental Health http://www.blisstree.com/articles/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma-234/comment-page-1/#comment-104033 Educate Yourself And Others About Mental Health Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:23:30 +0000 http://www.mentalhealthnotes.com/2008/09/08/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma/#comment-104033 [...] 5 Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate” series here at Mental Health Notes, I’ve given you reasons to stop promoting stigma, a list of large mental health advocacy and research organizations with which you can get involved, [...] [...] 5 Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate” series here at Mental Health Notes, I’ve given you reasons to stop promoting stigma, a list of large mental health advocacy and research organizations with which you can get involved, [...]

]]> By: Get Involved With Mental Health Support Groups http://www.blisstree.com/articles/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma-234/comment-page-1/#comment-104028 Get Involved With Mental Health Support Groups Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:01:30 +0000 http://www.mentalhealthnotes.com/2008/09/08/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma/#comment-104028 [...] Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate” series here at Mental Health Notes, I’ve given you reasons to stop promoting stigma and a list of large mental health advocacy and research organizations with which you can get [...] [...] Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate” series here at Mental Health Notes, I’ve given you reasons to stop promoting stigma and a list of large mental health advocacy and research organizations with which you can get [...]

]]> By: Alicia Sparks, Mental Health Notes http://www.blisstree.com/articles/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma-234/comment-page-1/#comment-104024 Alicia Sparks, Mental Health Notes Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:45:37 +0000 http://www.mentalhealthnotes.com/2008/09/08/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma/#comment-104024 @ Chato - Ah, that's great advice! "Pick your battles." So true. That's something I had to learn to do when I first got into both mental health advocacy and animal rights advocacy. And, it's a tough lesson at times. Kind of wrote a story about it here: <a HREF="http://www.mentalhealthnotes.com/2008/05/13/accepting-reservations-for-the-funny-farm/" rel="nofollow">Accepting Reservations For The Funny Farm</A> I remember one of the NAMI WV ladies passing along the same advice during a health fair we attended, after one of the visitors to our booth looked at us, drew circles around the side of his head, and laughed, "I'm not crazy!" *sigh* @ Chato – Ah, that’s great advice! “Pick your battles.” So true. That’s something I had to learn to do when I first got into both mental health advocacy and animal rights advocacy. And, it’s a tough lesson at times.

Kind of wrote a story about it here: Accepting Reservations For The Funny Farm

I remember one of the NAMI WV ladies passing along the same advice during a health fair we attended, after one of the visitors to our booth looked at us, drew circles around the side of his head, and laughed, “I’m not crazy!”

*sigh*

]]> By: Get Involved With Mental Health Advocacy And Research Organizations http://www.blisstree.com/articles/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma-234/comment-page-1/#comment-104021 Get Involved With Mental Health Advocacy And Research Organizations Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:21:02 +0000 http://www.mentalhealthnotes.com/2008/09/08/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma/#comment-104021 [...] In yesterday’s post for the “Top 5 Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate,” I wrote about how you can easily become a mental health advocate when you stop yourself and others from promoting mental health stigma. [...] [...] In yesterday’s post for the “Top 5 Ways To Be A Mental Health Advocate,” I wrote about how you can easily become a mental health advocate when you stop yourself and others from promoting mental health stigma. [...]

]]> By: chato http://www.blisstree.com/articles/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma-234/comment-page-1/#comment-104020 chato Tue, 09 Sep 2008 04:42:55 +0000 http://www.mentalhealthnotes.com/2008/09/08/stop-yourself-and-others-from-promoting-mental-health-stigma/#comment-104020 * Have you been guilty of promoting stigma? Yes! But mainly it was focused at me and my then lack of education on the subject. * How have you tried to stop others from promoting stigma? YES! Just today in fact, when a woman call the pressure and stress she was dealing with like being it "made me a little bit schizophrenic!"... She took offense that I would even highlight it. * What advice would you offer someone who comes face-to-face with degrading, stigma-promoting words or actions? Pick your battles! We can't go around change every deep seed misunderstands. If they are friends or family or people that you work with you may be able to just talk to them and high light the stigma in a tactful way and give an explanation why it is offensive. They might not even realize. Oh the other hand, if some one is being tormented verbally or even physically they may be a need to step in. Although I wonder, can stigma be HATE CRIME? * Have you been guilty of promoting stigma?

Yes! But mainly it was focused at me and my then lack of education on the subject.

* How have you tried to stop others from promoting stigma?

YES! Just today in fact, when a woman call the pressure and stress she was dealing with like being it “made me a little bit schizophrenic!”… She took offense that I would even highlight it.

* What advice would you offer someone who comes face-to-face with degrading, stigma-promoting words or actions?

Pick your battles! We can’t go around change every deep seed misunderstands. If they are friends or family or people that you work with you may be able to just talk to them and high light the stigma in a tactful way and give an explanation why it is offensive. They might not even realize. Oh the other hand, if some one is being tormented verbally or even physically they may be a need to step in.

Although I wonder, can stigma be HATE CRIME?

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