Mental health issues have received needed public attention lately. Gymnast Simone Biles’ courage in speaking up at the Olympics instead of suffering in silence is the latest example of a well-known person sparking a broad conversation around mental health issues. And while talking about mental health is an important step in the right direction it’s also vital that we consider the words we use when talking about mental health.
One in four adults in the U.S. qualifies as having a diagnosable mental disorder — that’s 25% of your neighbors, colleagues, friends, family and perhaps you who are affected. But despite how common mental health issues are, nine out of 10 of those affected still feel the stigma that our society attaches to them. Often, the result is that important issues surrounding a person’s mental health aren’t discussed and worse, aren’t treated.
At Gateway, we discuss mental health by using words that are descriptive and hopeful and we have seen real impact by shifting the conversation away from terms such as mental illness and toward constructive, descriptive phrases like mental wellness.
The change isn’t just about word choice — it has real consequences on whether people feel comfortable opening up and expressing confidence in telling the story — their story — of mental health challenges. We know that using this type of language helps transform the conversation away from just the challenges that people face and toward people’s hopes for their future in terms of treatment and living a fuller life.
The downsides of silence on this topic are significant and talking about mental health is key to eroding the stigma. This is about empowering people to seek help from a qualified mental health professional. Good mental health is such an important part of living a full life — from achieving fulfilling personal relationships to gaining secure housing and thriving in employment opportunities.
How does mental wellness differ from mental illness? Wellness includes not only our cognitive functioning but also our ability as human beings to engage in social relationships. It’s based on an active process of resilience, growth and prosperity that helps us change our perspective to the more positive so we can focus on how we function rather than keeping focus on — and defining a person by — the mental illness, itself. This approach means a perceived weakness becomes a tool of empowerment that enables a person to live life to the fullest and find one’s own meaning and purpose. Each of us shares responsibility for helping people feel accepted. Here at Gateway, we encourage the Greenville community to embrace the concept of mental wellness as part of a better future, together.
– Randy Redlinger, executive director, Gateway, a nonprofit organization helping adults in the Upstate of South Carolina living with mental illness build confidence through social interaction and a workday model at Gateway’s 20,000-square-foot Clubhouse.
