Kudos To Everyone!!
Mental Health Challenge is growing so fastly. We are trying to spead awareness about it. I hope all of you will take a step ahead . Let’s start with today’s discussion on the topic : “7 WAYS TO BE A MENTAL HEALTH ALLY”.
Around mental health, there are several myths, misunderstandings, and preconceptions. All of these factors can contribute to stigma. Or the perception that mental illness is something to be ashamed of or hide.
The judgments we make about others based on their mental health . When those judgments affect what people can accomplish and have access to, it can become discrimination.
WHAT IS AN ALLY ?
As an ally, you may fight stigma when you see it and work to make the world a better place for people with mental illnesses. Here are some of the more typical methods to recognise stigma. As well as some suggestions for how to combat it.
You will almost certainly face a mental health issue at some point in your life. Recognizing this possibility should inspire you to be a mental health ally at work. Treating your coworkers who are coping with mental health challenges. This is also with the empathy you would desire in similar situations.
Also Read: 10 habits of mentally strong people
Being a mental health ally at work means assisting folks who are dealing with mental illnesses in feeling valued and needed. Employee engagement, productivity, and loyalty may all rise as a result of this. The entire employee community can benefit from the strengthening and development of ties among coworkers.
Talking one-on-one with colleagues who are struggling, using supportive language, educating yourself and colleagues on mental health. Encouraging group engagement, and creating policies that help employees who need it are some of the most effective 7 ways you can be a mental health ally.
1. Prepare Yourself
Fear of mental disease stems from a lack of knowledge and understanding. In reality, diverse diseases and illnesses even have varying degrees of severity and symptoms, necessitating a wide range of treatment options. Check out reputable resources to do your own study to learn more about the basics of some of these disorders.
2. Find a good time and know your boundaries
You must be aware of your own mental health as a mental health ally, and recognise that you are not a caregiver. If you’re attempting to help a friend who is battling with substance misuse, for example, it’s a good idea to put limits on how involved you can be and how much of your time and money you can commit based on your capabilities. Lets discuss third way out of 7 WAYS TO BE A MENTAL HEALTH ALLY.
3. Start Gently any conversation
- Listen. Allow them to complete their sentences and thoughts without interruption. You can answer once they have finished.
- Let them know if you’ve grasped the situation. Make sure you don’t start talking about your problems; instead, focus on theirs.
- Make an effort not to pass judgement.
- They should be taken seriously. Avoid making statements that belittle how they are feeling.
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- Make yourself accessible to speak with you again if necessary.
- While it might be a huge relief for someone to open up about something they’ve been keeping hidden, mental health issues rarely resolve themselves in one discussion.
- If necessary, make yourself accessible to speak with them again.
- While sharing something that has been kept hidden might be a huge relief, mental health issues rarely resolve themselves in one discussion.
- Don’t go around spreading rumours about what you’ve been told.
- It was undoubtedly difficult for them to get the courage to speak up about their mental health in the first place.
- Allow them to share their experiences on their own terms.
4. Use Supportive Language
A person is never obligated to disclose their diagnosis, story, or explain things like self-harm scars. It is not your role to give counsel when someone confides in you about any of these issues; instead, simply listen.
If they don’t ask for more, just listen. It might be difficult to open up about this subject, and it can feel like a danger each time they do. Even if you’re just casually conversing in a group, consider the impact of your words because you never know who you can offend. It’s crucial to remember that mental illnesses are not adjectives, nouns, or verbs.
5. Be Sensitive
We live in a world where empathy is often distributed in a competitive manner: we can feel awful for someone if their circumstances are the worst we’ve heard today, and we can respect a struggle if we haven’t easily conquered something comparable. Empathy and validation were not intended to function this way.
Also Read: Make your partner Respect You
When we empathise with the people in our life without comparing their situations to ours or anybody else’s, we reduce the likelihood that our loved ones will feel alone in their suffering and increase the likelihood that they will be vulnerable enough to reach out to us in their time of need.
6. Engagement
Championing mental health, normalising conversations about it, and working to make the place you’re in mental health positive are all important aspects of being a mental health ally.
It’s a good idea to have conversations with your coworkers, friends, and family about the stigma around mental diseases and how seeking therapy or using medication for mental health is normal.