Having spent my entire career in the mental health field, I have witnessed both the tremendous value of mental health assistance, and the unfortunate tendency for people to avoid it due to lingering stigmas. Even today, the word “mental” still carries a lot of weight when it comes to the likelihood that one will seek professional services — meaning that people will often shy away from “mental” support, but if they are simply invited to “talk to someone” they are far more apt to consider the idea. Although America is making progress toward greater acceptance of mental health needs and concerns, we still struggle with the word “mental,” often associating it with weakness or the idea that seeking help means we’re incapable or flawed.
Can we ever become comfortable with “mental” support?
There are a number of reasons relating to how we got here with negative stigmas around mental health, including the following:
- Historical baggage. For much of the 20th century, terms like mental illness, mental institution, and mental patient were associated with asylums, confinement, and severe disorders.
- Language stigma. The word mental is often used pejoratively — as in “he’s mental” or “she’s got mental issues.”
- Cultural expectations of toughness. In many cultures — especially American sports, military, or workplace settings — strength is equated with emotional control.
- Mind-body disconnect. People still view mental health as something separate from physical health, even though neuroscience shows how deeply connected the two are.
- Fear of labeling and identity. Acknowledging a mental health issue feels personal — as if it defines who someone is, not just what they’re experiencing.
Are the factors described above simply too much for us to overcome? Even today, with much more acceptance for mental health compared to the past, many people forfeit pursuing help simply because of the baggage, stigma, and cultural expectations associated with “mental.”
Ironically, even using simpler, more vague terms invites people to consider help — so long as we steer away from the word “mental.” When we think about help in terms of talking to a friend, understanding that emotional support is very normal, and that we all deal with stress and life challenges on a daily basis, our guard lowers and we become more effective and efficient in our efforts to improve. While it may be impossible to separate the word mental from emotional help and support, greater efforts may need to be made in the future so that more people can normalize the help, and feel better as a result.
Final thoughts
Having a neutral, objective, professional clinician assist with life issues is a really good thing, as the experience can lead to better problem solving, anxiety-reducing strategies, and cathartic expression. While not every tough moment in life will require reaching out to a mental health clinician, you might be surprised to learn how helpful it might be — especially when you go in open-minded and optimistic.
drstankovich.com
