Breaking the Stigma

INDIVIDUAL MENTAL HEALTH
Written By Peachey Counselling

June is Canadian Men’s Health Month, Pride Month, and Indigenous History Month.

These are some groups and identities that experience mental health barriers due to a variety of reasons, including stigmas and stereotypes that have been assigned by societal norms.

For this month's blog post, we are going to break those reasons down for you and offer ways to champion inclusivity when it comes to mental health.

Before getting into that, let's address the stigma of mental health.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada reports that every year, 1 in 5 Canadians experience mental health problems or illnesses - this is 20% of our population needing mental health support every year. The stigma stems from many places, such as hospitals, workplaces, schools, our family and friend circles, and cultural groups.

A large part of this is that mental health is not openly spoken about, and the language used when speaking on the topic is not inclusive or appropriate. There are ways to address these concerns; however, it can be daunting for someone already experiencing challenges to advocate for themselves and the validity of their experience - mental health can be exhausting! Mental health can sometimes be seen as an excuse for not "trying hard enough" or "procrastinating" tasks. Essentially, it is the opposite! When we have low levels of positive mental health, we are automatically behind and do not have the tools and resources to execute tasks of any level.

When it comes to the groups mentioned earlier, there are a lot of stigmas - not just from those in support circles but also from care providers. According to the Canadian Mental Health Commission, “people with lived experiences of mental health and addiction problems often report feeling devalued, dismissed and dehumanized by many healthcare professionals with whom they come into contact.”  With this prejudice already being portrayed by those in helping positions, it may lead to an unwillingness to seek help. On top of being a part of stereotypes and stigmas that have trouble accessing mental health services, this added bias is a barrier that needs to be broken. 

Let's start with a gendered approach to mental health concerns. The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) has called men’s mental health a 'silent crisis.' Dr. Don McCreary, the Toronto Men’s Health Network co-chair, claims that our society's culture is that men must be tough and strong. Therefore, when the stigma of mental health revolves around the notion of being weak, you are not considered masculine. This is detrimental to many individuals' mental health, as it suddenly is seen as a bad thing to access mental health services or supports if you identify as a man. This can lead to further concerns about men’s mental health, such as suffering in silence or turning to substances to cope with the helpless feeling. This is common in men, especially adolescents, so doctors have trouble pinpointing this behaviour and diagnosing it as a mental illness. CMHA also states that among Canadians, four of every five suicides are male, which is not spoken about enough. In moving forward from these horrifying statistics, continuing to talk openly and vulnerably about mental health and creating spaces for men, women, and all identities to receive support can help eliminate the stigma around men’s mental health. However, this requires safe spaces to be created and upheld by all in positions of support. If we support this and are respectful of everyone’s experiences, more individuals can access mental health in a safe and comfortable way.

Those who identify as LGBTQ2S+ also face stigma around mental health. Notions such as exclusion and discrimination can create higher risks for mental health disorders among members of these communities, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and phobic disorders, suicidality, self-harm and substance use. Additionally, sexual minority individuals are 2.5 more likely to attempt suicide and are 1.5 times more likely to have depression and anxiety than individuals who are heterosexual. These stats are concerning, as a large percentage of LGBTQ2S+ individuals would benefit from mental health services, however, may not be able to access safe spaces because of their identity. An issue when accessing services can likely be linked to how inclusion and freedom from discrimination and violence can contribute to more positive mental health; however, LGBTQ2S+ individuals face the opposite - exclusion and prevalent discrimination regarding their identities.

We can support this group through accessible counselling, information and referrals to agencies, one-on-one support groups for youth, inclusive events, access to gender-affirming attire, and volunteer/placement opportunities. It also requires heterosexual individuals to listen and learn from the experiences of the LGBTQ2S+ community - whether allowing the individuals to run programs or collaborate meaningfully when it comes to allyship.

Colonization in Canada, along with the Residential School system, left a dark cloud looming over many Indigenous communities. Having languages, cultures, and family members taken away has led to high rates of mental illness. This has led to Indigenous communities being challenged with high suicide rates, difficulties with substance abuse, and family violence. Because this issue has been kept quiet for many years, these traumas are often intergenerational, leaving families unable to cope in a healthy way, hence turning to substance abuse, violence, etc., mentioned above. Erin Blondeau, a mother and activist, also elaborates that spending time on traditional lands and speaking traditional languages can be a form of healing to some. However, healing is difficult when Indigenous individuals and communities are displaced from all they knew. When working with Indigenous communities, we must understand how cultures and traditions vary and in what ways we can be the most supportive. CMHA has a guide to mental health and wellness services that incorporate balance and harmony, which are aspects of Indigenous cultural wellness. Some programs and services are provided by Indigenous communities so that individuals can receive support in various languages to ensure accessibility.

In order to allow Indigenous people to share their experiences and ways of healing with one another, systems must be put in place to allow them to all participate in a meaningful way. This requires all counselling, groups, programs, and events to be created with Indigenous values, and having allies supporting and attending accordingly.

So, after all is said, what can be done to ensure that mental health is accessible and free of stigma for everyone?

Collectively, we can reduce the stigma for all individuals who access mental health support; it is possible! Those affected by mental health concerns must be treated respectfully and equally as if the concern pertained to physical health. To make this happen, we need all individuals to be allies to those with mental health concerns. This includes ensuring our homes, schools, and workplaces are safe spaces to discuss these issues. When speaking, we must ensure that we are presenting a non-judgmental attitude that stays away from societal norms and expectations while listening to the experiences of individuals. It also means that we need support from the media we consume and those in helping professions to be inclusive. Without having allied support, ending the stigma around mental health cannot occur.

Some ways to achieve these goals are by talking about mental health, educating ourselves on the topic, including others, and becoming a champion of mental health! This is a challenge we can all benefit from. By being open and vulnerable with one another, mental health support can be accessible to everyone and lead to inclusion. When everyone is mentally healthy, we all can be the best version of ourselves and end the stigma on mental health.

Whatever it is, we’re here for you.

Life is uncertain. Jobs are stressful. Parenting is hard. Relationships take work. Families can be dysfunctional. And, sometimes love hurts. When you’re confronted by feelings, events, or issues that are making your life challenging, it’s okay to ask for some help.

Contact us for a free consultation

Peachey Counselling
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