#not that they aren't important. but mental health advocacy needs to get better and do better

[trans-axolotl]

Speaking as a psych survivor that wants there to be better treatment for people with highly stigmatized disorders like my own, what are things that I can do within my community to help?

hey anon!

First thing I want to say is that you are absolutely the expert on your own experiences. Your own instincts, wisdom, and past experiences are such a valuable resource, and whatever ways you choose to show up in community is important and valued. Ways of helping that make me feel connected to community might not be what you want, and that's totally okay.

A great step can be to look at what's already there in your local community. Is there a consumer/survivor/mental health advocacy group in your location? Is there peer support groups or peer respite? Are there any policy campaigns that resonate with you? Some helpful resources to find out if advocacy is going on in your community can be to go to Hearing Voices Groups, other local support groups, or even NAMI groups. (I dislike NAMI as an organization, but the support groups can sometimes be a way to find other mad/mentally ill/neurodivergent people in your area who are doing cool things.) If there is advocacy happening already in your community that feels important to you, that can be a great way to get involved. Other advocacy campaigns that aren't directly related to mental health can be great resources--things like harm reduction organizations, other justice and advocacy organizations, other disability organizations like Centers for Independent Living.

Another thing that's been super helpful for me is just getting access to more education about how to help people in crisis, and going to a lot of trainings on peer support, noncarceral suicide prevention, conflict resolution, things like that. I love the pay-what-you-can webinars that Project LETS offers. IDHA also has tons of amazing resources and training courses, but they do cost more. Most states also have peer specialist training courses--I think a lot of these courses kind of suck in terms of content, but getting certified as a peer specialist can open the door to some volunteer and job opportunities, if that's what you're interested in.

Something else that I think can be really important is just educating ourselves and building relationships with people in our community. Learning about mad mapping, knowing your rights for hospitalization, practicing coping skills, meeting your neighbors, cooking for people --really just investing into support systems can help people learn ways of helping each other and meeting our needs that don't require us to interact with fucked up systems. If we build relationships and have those social connections in place, it can help us be more prepared to care for each other through distress and crisis, and make sure that everyone's basic needs are being met. I love the book Care Work by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha for thinking through some of the ways we can build community and care for eachother as disabled people. Also, spending time identifying my own needs, asking for help, and sharing aspects of my own story with people in my community has helped me connect to other people who have those same needs, and I think sometimes can help challenge some of the stigma we face by being really authentic with each other.

This is definitely not a comprehensive list, and is just a small snapshot of some of the things that have been meaningful to me! My values and passions are more centered in building community alternatives to the current mental health system rather than trying to reform the mental health system, but there are absolutely groups out there that are more focused on changing policies. There's so many ways, big and small, that I can think of for getting involved in radical mental health work in your community, and I would love it if people could add on things that they're doing or that they're passionate about!!

#antipsych #mad pride #asks #please add on!

[dromaeocore]

I'm sorry but there's nothing I can relate to less than those uplifting stories about people who suffered "a couple months of depression" and then got better

#I'm so tired of this being the Uplifting Mental Health Awareness story #like I'm glad they got better and all but man #we really need uplifting stories about people who've been struggling with severe and chronic mental illness for *years* #for people who will likely suffer with depression and suicidal thoughts and even psychosis for the majority of our lives #not just folks who had mild/moderate depression or anxiety for a few months and then got better #not that they aren't important. but mental health advocacy needs to get better and do better #for those of us who are in it for the long haul and dealing with more severe or stigmatized symptoms #i can't really relate to a story like 'after months of this i almost felt like... maybe.... i didn't enjoy living that much anymore' #like bro I've straight up been making suicide plans since I was at *least* 15 I CANNOT see myself in a 'palatable' mental health story #if you've been put through the ringer with your brain. if your symptoms are chronic and ugly and stigmatized... i love you #and we're going to learn coping mechanisms and get support #and things will and do get better even if they get worse sometimes and even if we'll never be 'normal' #it's not fair and it fucking sucks but i swear we can get through this #personal

[mmp667]

World Mental Health Day

World Mental Health Day is on October 10 and as our understanding of mental health grows, we grow along with it. Mental health has come a long way since the early nineties when the World Federation of Mental Health (WFMH) officially established the day. Our self-awareness and sensitivity towards it have changed things for the better. Our language surrounding mental health has improved as words like “crazy” and “lunatic” are used less flippantly and we come to better understand that they can be unintentionally hurtful and stigmatizing. While we’ve learned a lot, there’s still so much more we can do to evolve as a society.

HISTORY OF WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

In 1992, the World Federation of Mental Health led by the deputy secretary general at the time, Richard Hunter, created World Mental Health Day. They didn’t have a precise objective other than to advocate for mental health as a whole. To say the least, it was an uphill climb to change a plethora of bad and dangerous habits that were making a difficult situation worse for people.

The world had a host of mental health issues that weren’t properly being treated. There were struggles to gain public funding for treatment in France, inhumane treatment in New Zealand, and an overall ignorance in regards to what mental health actually is. The WFMH knew that they needed to act on a global scale to solve a global crisis.

For the first three years, there was a two-hour telecast broadcast across the globe through the US information agency satellite. The studio was located in Tallahassee, Florida and it became a useful way to get their message of advocacy out to the world. They had participation from Chile, England, Australia, and Zambia, while Geneva, Atlanta and Mexico City pre-taped segments for the broadcast.

The first World Mental Health Day theme was “Improving the Quality of Mental Health Services throughout the World” in 1994. 27 countries sent feedback reports after the campaign and there were national campaigns in Australia and England. Continuing this momentum, WFMH Board members across the globe arranged events in accordance to the day, and its growing popularity among government departments, organizations, and civilians alike.

Starting in 1995 and continuing on, The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) arranged the translation of the planning kit material into Spanish and French, Russian, Hindi, Japanese, and Chinese and Arabic. As the years passed, more countries got involved and consequently, so did civilians as the perception of mental health became more synonymous with human rights.

The themes for World Mental Health Day expanded along with the times. Women, children, health, work, trauma, suicide, and so much more became a part of the conversation and today, the average citizen is more knowledgeable in regards to mental health.

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY TIMELINE

1996 - present

Awareness

As more themes are added, increased awareness of multiple aspects of mental health becomes more common on a global level.

1995

Global impact

An increase in international events took place that caused rise to more conferences about the subject and community celebrations.

1994

Name that theme

The first theme was created, "Improving the Quality of Mental Health Services throughout the World."

1992

The beginning

World Mental health Day was observed for the first time on October 10, 1992.

WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY FAQS

How do I comfort someone with mental illness?

Many people want to help, but don’t know how. Make it casual and ask to take someone that might be suffering out to lunch and simply let them know that you’re there for them.

What causes mental illness?

Multiple factors can contribute to mental health issues relating to your biology and external factors: psychological trauma, the early loss of a parent, and neglect are a few examples.

How do I know if I have mental health issues?

It’s important to consult a mental health professional if you have serious concerns. Some signs to look out for are changes in sleep or appetite, rapid or dramatic mood changes, withdrawal, drop in functioning, and problems thinking.

HOW TO OBSERVE WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

Do Group Therapy in the Workplace

Register for a group therapy workshop at your place of work. This can allow you and your coworkers to express themselves in a safe environment. We tend to hold onto the idea that pushing through and carrying on is the best way, but issues can arise unexpectedly if they aren't properly dealt with.

Practice Self-Care

There are many changes you can make to your life that can continue beyond World Mental Health Day. Developing a regular sleep routine, adjusting your diet to healthier options, taking lunch breaks, and going on long walks are just some of the options. The point of self-care is to understand your specific needs. Find time to ask yourself what you want and go for it.

Follow The Theme

Each year there’s a new theme and even if it doesn’t directly involve your struggles, you can still learn from it. Spend some time and research the subject. Awareness extends beyond yourself and it could provide you with the proper tools to better understand others.

FIVE SURPRISING FACTS ABOUT WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

Unholy spirit

It's believed in certain cultures that mental health problems are caused by spirit possession.

Global numbers

Globally, one in four people will need mental health care in their lives.

National numbers

More than 43 million Americans battle with mental health.

Youth depression

Depression among youth has risen from 5.9% to 8.2% since 2012.

Limitations

Most Americans lack access to proper healthcare treatment.

WHY WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY IS IMPORTANT

Identify the problem

The idea of the mind is an abstract concept and this day allows us to think about our thoughts. We’re evolving beyond outdated perceptions and releasing the stigma of mental health so that we can properly diagnose it and take care of ourselves. With the burden and fear removed from mental health issues, the battle becomes considerably easier.

Share your pain

This day reminds you that whatever you’re going through, you’re not alone. Too often we think that we’re the only ones facing a hard time. It’s uplifting to know that other people have gone through it and made it out the other end. It reminds you that you can overcome your own pain.

Proper treatment

As our understanding of mental health grows, so does our ability to seek proper treatment. With the right therapist and necessary medication, you can operate on a more efficient level. The more accepting we are and the more funding that’s put into research and mental healthcare the greater the global impact.