Taking Control of Your Mental Health
Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. Many people suffer in silence when it comes to psychological issues, but why? And how can you start taking control of your mental health?
For years there has been a stigma around mental health. Stigma is a perceived mark of disgrace that sets a person apart from others. When a person receives a label for their illness, they can perceive themselves as no longer being seen as an individual but as a stereotyped group.
When an individual gets a label, and their symptoms become ‘just a phase’ they’re going through; all this can lead to a lack of compassion for the individual who is struggling. The worst part about the stigma surrounding mental health is that it can prevent people from seeking the professional help they need. People can feel ashamed to admit they aren’t coping very well, and this adds to the debilitating experience they are already going through.
Recently the fight against mental health stigma has grown as more people become aware of the realities of poor mental health and how it really can affect anyone.
Mental health disorders do not discriminate, and they can affect the most unlikely of people.
You may hear people say, “I can’t believe she’s been diagnosed with depression; she seems so bubbly”, and the painful truth is that many people suffering have just mastered hiding it.
So how can we take control of our mental health and overcome the stigma?
1. Talk openly
If you can, open up about how you’re feeling to friends and family; not only will this take some weight off yourself, but it may allow someone else to open up who can relate to the way you feel. If mental health is part of conversations, it’s normalised, which will loosen the stigma.
2. Educate yourself and others
Reading about your problems (or someone else’s) will give you a different perspective on mental health. Understanding what is happening in your brain and your body, as a result, can make your struggles easier to digest and move forward.
3. Be honest about treatment
If you feel comfortable, tell people you’re seeing a therapist, they don’t have to know what for, but the fact that you’re being open about seeking help is nothing to feel ashamed of and slowly breaks down the taboo.
4. Be conscious of language
Mental health is oftentimes a sensitive subject. People can become triggered quite easily if people aren’t aware of the language they use. Throw away comments relating to mental health issues, such as “I’m so OCD” and certain phrases like “man up” could send someone who IS struggling to a problematic place.
5. Do your research on therapy
Many people would have tried counselling or therapy to find it ‘hasn’t worked’, but this is perhaps down to the approach used. Carry out thorough research on accredited professionals who specialise in certain conditions to give yourself the best chance of recovery. Don’t give up after one bad experience.
How can Onebright help to support you?
If you are struggling with your mental health and ready to begin taking control of your mental health, we are here to help. All our therapists are BABCP accredited, meaning they hold the highest gold standard possible for a in Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. Below is a list of services provided to support you:
- Online therapy – we can offer one-to-one therapy delivered through Skype, FaceTime or via telephone.
- Self-guided therapy – Access an online portal that will allow you to work through your problems whenever suits you, anytime, anywhere.