2022 Mental Health Essay Contest Awardee: Honorable Mention
Stop the Stigma: Talk, Understand, Value
Veronica, Illinois
From early on, we are taught to not judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately, people tend to ignore this life lesson and fail to realize that some of the most critical wounds are internal. Teenagers who are bullied are expected to “deal with it.” Students who are stressed due to the demands of their classes, tests, and schedules are expected to “find coping strategies.” We live in a society that perpetuates a stigma surrounding mental health. This stigma creates an implication that people who need help are weak and are incapable of handling their own issues. People who would not think twice about going to a doctor for flu-like symptoms are somehow shamed or hesitant to go to a therapist for help coping with stress or other mental health issues. In order to change the perception of mental health, we need to talk about it more, understand the issues, and promote the value of mental health.
The worst injuries and wounds are the ones we cannot see. According to Mental Health America, 19.86% of adults, which is equivalent to approximately 50 million Americans, are battling against a mental illness, and of this population, 4.91% of these adults experience a severe mental illness. Even though nearly one fifth of all American adults suffer at the hands of mental illness, people still tend to treat mental illness as being a separate issue from the body. Mental health disorders have the ability to ravage and nearly destroy a person’s brain both physically and emotionally all while preserving the person’s outward appearance. Because of this, we must not make judgments and comments about others suffering from mental health disorders because, no matter if words are intended to help or harm, this often leads to the invalidation of the person’s situation. In my own experience, when I injured my leg while playing volleyball, my coach and the athletic trainer took me out of the game. It was clear that I was physically injured, and they identified this problem quickly and removed me from the game. However, if my anxiety disorder becomes difficult to manage, and I tell my coach that I do not feel well and need to sit this out, I am dismissed and invalidated by my teammates when I am told that “You look fine.” and “You don’t look sick.” Similar to how it is unrealistic to tell an athlete with an injured leg to simply “Walk it off,” it is also unreasonable to tell someone suffering from anxiety to “Snap out of it!” or to “Calm down.” The brain is as much of a body part as one’s leg, and if the brain is unable to function properly, it is unreasonable for a person suffering from anxiety to “calm down” and solve her issues. Sadly, our world abides far too closely by the mantra “Seeing is believing.” Because mental health disorders do not typically manifest in physical symptoms, and we cannot directly see them, this therefore creates the illusion that a person suffering from depression or generalized anxiety disorder is functional because he or she looks fine on the outside. This statement is destructive and could not be further from the truth.
No one is exempt from being invalidated by this stigma. For example, Simone Biles, one of the most decorated American female gymnasts of all time, experienced invalidation and opposition for stepping away from the competition at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Although many people provided her with love and support, just as many criticized her and argued that she should compete because nothing was physically wrong with her. However, she explained that she stepped down due to her mind and body not being in sync. Biles explained the danger the “twisties” impose, which is a term for when a gymnast’s awareness in the air is inaccurate. She said that, because she was not mentally present, this could have negatively impacted her perception of her body’s location in the air, which could have led to her landing the wrong way and becoming permanently paralyzed.
The example that Simone Biles has set is one that everyone should strive to follow. We can do this by recognizing our personal limitations and knowing when to back down without being influenced by the negative opinions of others. In order to reduce mental health stigmas, we must change the perception surrounding mental health and promote its value. This needs to be done in schools, so that we are creating a generation of people moving forward who will have the proper education surrounding these real issues. Schools should host mandatory mental health days in which students step outside of the classroom and attend workshops pertaining to a variety of mental health topics, such as bullying, managing stress as a student, and overcoming stigma and shame surrounding mental health. Through these workshops, the conversation is centered around the idea that there is no shame or weakness in asking for help. Just like one who is sick would seek a medical professional’s opinion, someone experiencing a mental health issue would be encouraged to seek the help of a mental health professional and understand that strong people seek help and find solutions. These workshops would promote the value of mental health and make people realize that it is just as important as your physical health. By having the courage and strength to recognize our own limitations and realize when we need to step away from a situation, fostering an attitude of respect and understanding for others, and refraining from judging a book by its cover, we as a society can dismantle mental health stigmas and create future generations of people who make an effort to read the stories of others.
NIH recognizes these talented essay winners for their thoughtfulness and creativity in addressing youth mental health. These essays are written in the students' own words, are unedited, and do not necessarily represent the views of NIH, HHS, or the federal government.
Page updated September 20, 2022
