stigma
People with mental illness represent one of the most deeply stigmatized groups in our culture. Learn more about it here.
Open Letter to the Depressed and Anxious, or Both
"You'll be fine." "Just be happy." "Do something that makes you feel happy." "It's only a phase. We all have rough times. You'll get over it." "You do this just for attention." These things are constantly repeated tirelessly to people who are exhausted by only getting out of bed. Shoved down the throat of someone who feels like they're drowning even though they aren't near a single body of water. Repeated to people who are dying to do the things they love but don't see the point in doing so. Words that are drilled into someone who is crying out for help but is seemingly ignored. These phrases are fed to people who may be considering committing suicide because they feel like they don't matter and physically hurt from loneliness and hurt. Phrases said to those with depression.
By Summer Smith8 years ago in Psyche
Read This if You Think Mental Health Is a Joke
According to Statistics Canada, as of 2014, over 2,300,000 people were diagnosed with a mood disorder (1). That's approximately 6.3% of the population. The CMHO states that as many as 1 in 5 children and youth in Ontario alone will experience some kind of Mental Health problem, with 70% of cases having an onset during adolescence or childhood (2).
By Lorah Catherine8 years ago in Psyche
Suicidal Ideation
Let's talk about something I'm all too familiar with, something I have experienced first hand. Let's talk about suicide. These days it seems suicide in the media is everywhere you look. From live streams and beloved celebrities to the much more controversial 13 Reasons Why." We've come a long way as a society when it comes to hard to discuss topics like mental health, and yet are we any closer to truly understanding the reasons behind suicide and suicidal ideation?
By Christina Woodcock8 years ago in Psyche
Stigma Reduction Can Have Different Outcomes
Things have been said in the past few months that really got me wound up about the different types of stigma reduction. It consists of raising awareness, including being comfortable talking about the topic and normalization, including an acceptance of the topic.
By Bushra Shahriar8 years ago in Psyche
Destigmatizing Mental Illnesses, Trauma, and Addiction
Suicide is never an easy thing to cope with or talk about. This year seems to have become the year that quite a few high-profile celebrities have elected to take the "easy" way out of their problems. The problem with regarding suicide that way, however, is that it's rarely an easy choice for the person who feels like life just isn't worth living anymore.
By Raven Aurora8 years ago in Psyche
Dear Africans, Mental Health is a Thing
Dear Africans, I write this with a heavy heart and as much as I know that mental health is a global issue, I write specifically to Africans because I am one and because I am familiar with the root cause of our issues considering the fact that most African nations tend to go through the same issues. Rwanda being my mother and father's home land, a country that has genocide tied to its history it is inevitable that there are numerous people living with wounds, nightmares, and places in their minds and hearts that have never been fully visited because of the sharp pain that resides there. However, it does not even need to take something as tragic as a genocide for one to be emotionally and mentally misplaced, it can be anything and it can happen to anyone.
By Winnie Rugamba8 years ago in Psyche
Common Myths About Psychosis
Mental illness is heavily stigmatized, often to the point of it being a taboo subject. Though the medical community can tell you that keeping stigma is a prime reason why people are dissuaded from seeking help, it still continues to be a socially acceptable thing to judge.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart8 years ago in Psyche
What It's Really Like to Have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder . Top Story - August 2017.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is widely heard of and spoken about. Yet it is also one of the most misunderstood disorders at the same time. So many people jokingly describe moments of fussiness and particularity as “OCD moments.” There has even been a television show, Monk, which is about a detective with excessive fears of germs and anything which is not 100 percent perfect. But OCD in real life is slightly different from those stereotypes.
By Rebecca Sharrock8 years ago in Psyche
