According to a study, some of the descriptive words young people use towards mentally-challenged people are "psycho", "attention-seeker", and "crazy". Others might take it lightly as a joke but for the eyes of the stigmatized, it is not.
World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10th of every year. The World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) aims to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilize efforts in support of mental health. Over the years, discussing mental health has come a long way amidst the misconceptions it continues to face.
Ungkat talked with an advocate of mental health pseudonymized "Frances" who is diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). They [he] said, "The first time I ever recognized there was something going [on] with me, I was 11 or 12. I was bullied for the majority of my childhood and raised in a not so ideal household and the combination of the two affected me in very discreet ways that I didn't notice up to that point."
Frances said that BPD gives them [him] mood swings that vary in intensity; they [he] feel positive and loved then feels disgusted about themselves [himself], all in a short amount of time. It also came to a point where they [he] questioned if they're [he's] worthy of breathing at all.
"I did everything to have friends, 'cause I thought the lack of validation from others was the problem but it wasn't. I would do everything my bullies would tell me 'cause they said they'd be friends with me if I did. I did have a coping mechanism that was going home and listening to the vinyl we had at home, the act of listening to music as self-defense would go on to shape my life more than I thought it would. However, high school was a different beast entirely, and that was when my first suicide attempt happened," Frances shared.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), suicide is the second leading cause of death in individuals aged 15-29 years. Almost 800,000 people die by suicide every year; 1 person dies from suicide every 40 seconds.
A study from BMC Health Services Research argues that stigma against mental illness is a powerful contributory factor towards the reluctance of many young people to seek help. The study's findings suggest that reducing strong negative emotional reactions towards people with mental illness may improve help-seeking and may address the lack of factual information.
"There is no health without mental health," a significant line addressed by WHO. Poor mental health may lead to mental illness— an illness that is irrefutable— an illness that needs medical attention.
Support Mental Health Awareness— talk about it freely with your family, friends, and loved ones. Love and emotional support from people play a vital role in stopping stigmatization and raising awareness of mental health illnesses.
You are not alone. Spread the word and get involved. It helps.
Words by Vina Pastrana
Layout by Kiziah Magbanua
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