MTV Decoded Tackles Mental Health Stigma

About one in Americans experiences a mental illness in a given year. That's about 20% of our population.  But according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, only about 40% of people receive services to treat their conditions.  What's the culprit? Many say stigma.

Stigma around mental health issues and mental health treatment is one theme that I consistently run into in my work. Many clients report that they held off on accessing therapy services due to stigma around talking to a therapist or needing professional help. Additionally, for those who could benefit from medication or other treatments in conjunction with talk therapy, stigma serves as a constant barrier.  No one wants to be "that person" needing to take Prozac daily for their depression.

The reality is that many of us are suffering in silence.  There's no need for that. Speaking with a mental health professional may be the single healthiest and most important choice of your life. Not only could you learn ways to cope with symptoms and other life issues, but you also give yourself much-needed self-care time in a world that is often very demanding of your time and emotional energy.

I was really happy to come across MTV's recent episode of Decoded titled "5 Mental Health Stigmas that Need to Go!" It's a quick and important video to watch to continue to dismantle the stigma around mental health and treatment. The video stars host Franchesca Ramsey breaking down stigmas that keep many folks out of treatment. Please watch the video below.