VERIFIED By Debasmita Sinha- Chief Psychologist and Senior Director-Clinical Excellence

Breaking stigma is the first step to mental well-being. It’s time we acknowledge and unlearn our deep-seated beliefs on mental health and eliminate stigma to help others feel safe in reaching out.

What is stigma? The stigma around emotional and behavioural health refers to; fortunately, we are informed enough about mental health not to call a person with mental illness ‘crazy’. That, however, is just the tip of the iceberg of stigma. Stigma shows up in many ways in the workplace:

“Why is your energy/mood low?”

Stigma manifests in implicit ways, subconsciously, due to deeply held beliefs shrouded in misinformation. The stigma creates a significant barrier to feeling safe and seeking resources and available accommodations.

Why Should You Address Stigma?

The most important reason is that mental health is just like physical health. Therefore, all of us experience mental health issues at some point in our lives. Finally, mental health care is a human right. It is our responsibility to promote that human right.

If you don’t address stigma, you subscribe to it.

How can you reduce stigma?

In individual capacity-

1. You start by signing up for information. Subscribe to a channel by a mental health professional or read articles. Commit to spending 5 minutes every day seeking information.
2. Do not stay silent in awkward moments when someone makes an insensitive joke or a comment about someone’s mental health concerns or shares a belief about mental health in general. Object, correct them politely, or present an alternate perspective.
3. Do not assume that you naturally know or understand what to say or do with a person facing mental health concerns. Inform yourself of the right words to converse with your team members, colleagues, and loved ones about mental health. Start by searching credible corners of the Internet.
4. Sharing reduces shame. Show your support and awareness in public forums, conversations, and social media so others know that it may be safe to speak to you. If you have lived experience with mental health concerns, sharing can be powerful, but always a choice.
5. Encourage others to be informed. Share your reading with your team members, colleagues, and loved ones. Watch a movie together that brings the right perspectives.
6. Use the position of leadership or influence for advocacy. You can bring a tremendous shift in stigma through advocating for mental health and access to care.
7. Find opportunities for exposure to develop empathy. Interact with people who have lived their experiences and respectfully ask about their journeys.
8. Finally, you can become a mental health ally by acquiring basic skills to support, guide and provide mental health first aid.

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