There is a certain loop in which we exist when it comes to raising awareness and support for mental health care. Usually, during every mental health observance or following the untimely death of someone who has completed suicide, there is a short stint of high concern.
It is good though, that there are periods within which the conversation happens. For a very long time, the discussions of mental illnesses have remained in the shadows, but there has been an ever-increasing shift. This is a big positive, as persons now feel more comfortable discussing their mental illnesses and how it impacts them, making the experience a not so isolating one. It also significantly helps in decreasing the stigma that has long surrounded mental illness as being evil, attention seeking and crazy. This stigma has been one of the largest contributors towards many people trying to ignore, deny or mask their mental illness until it is too late.
While mental illnesses can develop at any age, it is commonly manifested during childhood. Without relevant support, those who experience trauma in their lives can find it very difficult to cope, resulting in harmful behaviours both to themselves and others. Unfortunate-ly, we live in a culture wherein people with experiences of trauma are given a short grace period within which to heal before they are expected to recover and move on. It does not help that there is an expectation to be individually resilient with no real support from professionals. Persons who seek out support or openly discuss their mental illnesses are often seen as being attention seeking. This comes out of our machismo culture where persons are encouraged to deal with trauma in stride and to do otherwise, would indicate weakness. This is particularly true for men, who have been molded into believing that discussing their feelings and the issues that affect them is a feminine trait, and so, not something that should be done. This perception contributes towards the significantly higher levels at which men complete suicides than women.
Our culture and beliefs are very resistant to seeking out and maintaining psychological and psychiatric help. Persons do not believe that therapy can help them or they are mistrustful of the practitioners. For the latter, it is certainly something that I can relate to and that is why it is important to assess therapists before becoming committed to them. If you cannot trust the person you are working along with, it is highly unlikely that they will be helpful to you as there are bound to be things you simply don’t tell them. As it relates to the former belief, a large part of this has to do with the idea that simply talking to your friends or partners about your issues is a suitable alternative to therapy and medical help.
Many persons still do not believe in therapy. It is not part of our culture to seek professional psychological and psychiatric help. There still persists the idea that talking with ones friends or partners is a suitable alternative to therapy and medication for those who need it. One must be mindful of the fact though, that oftentimes, friends and partners are not the best persons to discuss certain things with and they might also not be in a space to advise or support you. Certainly, speaking about the issues that impact you and your wellbeing with those you love and trust can in many ways feel therapeutic. However, talking to them about these issues is vastly different from having a structured plan for healing with a professional. It must be mentioned though that mental healthcare is extremely important not only to those who are considered mentally ill, but also for anyone who is seeking to work through or discuss their lives with an objective person.
Mental illnesses do not stem solely from medical conditions, but also from the environments that one is in. This is why those who experience poverty, instability and often live in high-conflict environments often test higher for mental illnesses, as they are not getting the practical support they need to overcome their challenges. Awareness of mental illness is all well and good but there needs to be more focus on providing mental healthcare. Mental health is extremely under-resourced and one thing that is becoming increasingly apparent is that lack of relevant supportive resources will only keep us in a grim loop of sporadic awareness campaigns and lost lives.
For anyone struggling mentally or know of someone who is at the moment, the Ministry of Health has three Safe Space Hotline numbers: 592-655-7233, 592-624-0238 or 592-624-0643.
