Ep 8: Don't Let Stigma Stop You

Welcome back to Discover Solutions, Feel Better Podcast. I’m your host Dr. Theresa Lewis.

Today I'm here with our intern Malin, a graduate student studying psychology, and we're talking about recognizing the stigma surrounding mental health care so we can work to eliminate it in ourselves and in our communities. 

Caring for our minds and bodies is usually seen in a positive light, but in some cases, people may judge themselves or discriminate against others who are receiving mental health care. Importantly, these stigmas are more pronounced within and toward racial minority populations. We hope to increase awareness of stigmas against mental illness that is happening both within health treatment programs, our public, and even within ourselves. We then ask the question – “what do we do now?”. We discuss steps we can take to eliminate stigma.

• Openly talking about our psychological health is the first step toward reducing this societal issue
• Don’t harbor self-stigma
• Healthcare providers examine our own stigmas
• Choose empowerment
• Call it out
• Be compassionate

 

Useful links on this topic:

https://nami.org/Support-Education/Mental-Health-Education

 

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Thanks for listening! Be well, be you and breathe.

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