As Mental Health Awareness Month concludes, we reflect on the progress made, misses and the challenges yet to face.
It’s been 75 years since the first Mental health awareness month was observed in May 1949 with the aim of increasing mental health wellness for the American people. Decades later, people across the world take time to raise awareness on mental wellness. Which begs the question, is there any significant impact?
Around 400 BC, Hippocrates attempted to separate mental illness from superstition by classifying them into classes. We’ve made strides in diagnosis and treatment. Medically we have come a long way from forms of managing illness that were straight out of horror films, but outside the confines of the hospital, the world seemed to be falling behind.
Years later, information about mental health is now in abundance. Everybody knows something about mental wellness. So kudos to everyone out there who has genuinely set out to spread awareness about mental health. The world is a safer place because of your work.
Long Road Ahead
That said, we have had a couple misses along the way.
Several years ago, during a youth service I attended, a guest, who I presume was a recently graduated psychologist, discussed some prevalent mental illnesses he had studied. He mentioned conditions such as bipolar disorder, ADHD, and autism.
What surprised me wasn’t the information itself, but rather the audience’s response. Every time he mentioned a symptom like the inattention for the ADHDers, the room would erupt into laughter. The speaker continued, seemingly motivated by the laughter, to provide more detailed encounters of the struggle faced by those with mental illness. The discussion of mental illness was reduced to a five-minute stand-up comedy routine. I wonder if someone in the room perhaps recognized familiar struggles, but they shrugged it off, afraid to be the subject of ridicule.
The Misinformation
Information without proper context may be the undoing of the very thing that it sets out to change. Misinformation about mental health is a pervasive issue that can have deep effects on individuals and communities.
Stigma in the past ages, surrounding mental health issues was caused by misinformation, making it harder for people to openly discuss their struggles and seek support.
The internet and social media forums contribute largely to the spread of misinformation, with unverified advice experiences that may not be related, often being shared more widely than evidence-based information. Some influencers have openly labelled mental illness as weakness and new generation problems.
Dispelling myths and providing clear science based insights is central to having a society that doesn’t shun the mentally ill.
There are also 10 minute online tests for various illnesses. Even though the platforms give disclaimers that the tests are not a diagnosis, some take the results as the gospel truth. Official diagnosis from certified medics takes a lot longer than that, and the approaches vary.
Combating misinformation is crucial for fostering an informed, compassionate society that supports mental well-being.
Dispelling myths and providing clear science based insights is central to having a society that doesn’t shun the mentally ill. Perhaps mental health professionals, activists, and organizations need to have a consensus on the proper approach to combat misinformation.
