[Shorts] Fighting stigma in mental health one issue at a time pt. 2

It’s a leap of faith for someone to go to therapy.

The field of psychology and mental health haven’t really marketed themselves that well in terms of reaching out to masses of what is has to offer.

The only time you see a “mental health expert” in the media is probably:

• Some kind of hysteria inducing event, such as a mass shooting or terrorist attack (this bothers me to no end, but I’ll dive into that in another post)
• Another hysteria inducing event, such as a president being elected… (I’ll get into that later as well)
• Reality rehab/therapy shows (IE. Intervention, Couples and Family Therapy w/ Dr. Jen Mann, Celebrity Rehab)
• Dr. Phil
• Radio shows featuring a prominent figure in the field, addressing call-in questions (IE. Dr. Drew)

If we were to glean anything from this, it’s that:

• All people who go to or need therapy are crazy
• Therapists and mental health practitioners are very confrontational
• A lot of assumptions are made about people whom these professionals have never met
• I definitely do not need this

Now, don’t get me wrong. I get that consuming these forms of media are not the only barriers to therapy.

It’s hard finding a good therapist in general. If you don’t have a personal referral, you’re really left with 2 options. Psychologytoday, where they literally give you the gamut of therapists in your area, often with overwhelming information about things you know little to nothing about. What the hell is a DBT?

Or Yelp. Everyone knows Yelp. The problem is, it’s user-generated, meaning your name and perhaps your picture will be associated with your review of a therapist. For some that’s a problem, for those who wish to remain anonymous, well, you can see the issue there.

Add in commitment, costs, stigma, and finding a good fit, it is easy to see why someone would feel overwhelmed and turned off to seeking treatment.

It doesn’t help that the perceptions of therapy and mental health professionals, especially portrayed in the media, slam the door shut on what is an already arduous journey for most in seeking therapy.

This is a plea to anyone and everyone to critically assess how mental health is being portrayed. The way we speak about these representations often impact those around us. When the only images we have of therapy and people seeking treatment are those portrayed in the media, it is easy for us to make general statements (often negative), and create barriers (stigma) for those who are truly in need of help.

I hope to continue publishing articles and posts in de-stigmatizing mental health as well as providing information in regards to treatment, treatment modalities, seeking treatment, education on diagnoses, and anything related to the field of psychology.

If interested, please follow me.

Questions? Leave a comment or DM on Twitter.

Let’s all work together in challenging stigma, one issue at a time.