Mental Health Stigma.
We hear a lot these days about
mental health, and the stigma that still exists around it. Various people come
out in public and talk about it, such as Prince Harry, and Alastair Campbell. I
hope this helps but I’m not sure how much it does. Those in the public eye
living atypical lives are not truly representative. Prince Harry just does not live
in the real world, and the very nature of the world he lives in you might think
would lead to mental health issues anyway.
I think working through and
understanding your own mental health issues requires self-reflection. There
were 3 programs on TV recently where people in the public eye examined their
depressive/anxiety illnesses which was brave, but I was struck by the lack of
in depth self-reflection. Alastair Campbell was one. He spent a whole hour
talking about his depression but he did not seem to look at his way of life or
the sort of person he is. He seemed very self centred and selfish, and so I
wonder how much he is aware of these traits but also how much they might
influence his depression.
I would argue that we all have
mental health issues. Perhaps that is the baseline for getting rid of the
stigma. We may not be so depressed that we cannot get out of bed or so anxious
that we cannot go out of the house. Yet there are so many behaviours and
personality traits/disorders out there which are unhealthy and destructive
amongst people who appear to be functioning. Borderline Personality disorder
for example can be so personally destructive for the sufferer and traumatic for
those coming into contact with them, and yet the individual may not know their
condition and may well be functioning sufficiently well to hold down a long
term job.
I find it quite frightening that
someone like Donald Trump could become president of the USA. He seems a very
dangerous person, and seemingly totally oblivious to his fundamental faults.
Yet he functions after a fashion. Trump is busy, goes to meetings, makes
decisions, makes speeches etc. but is seemingly a terrible bully, very
self-righteous, and apparently very narcissistic. Narcissistic personality
disorder is where someone has an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep
need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others. But behind the mask of
ultra-confidence lies a fragile self-esteem that is vulnerable to the slightest
criticism. Seems to fit. So how self-aware is he? Do you think he imagines he
could benefit from some therapy? I doubt it. At 73 years of age he shows little
signs of having undergone any serious self-reflection. But then what is also
really frightening is that such a person gets elected to office. So many of the
populace also seem to be very unaware of the personality problems and the
danger that they bring. This is what Eckhart Tolle describes as people being unaware
or asleep.
Back to the baseline. If only
Donald Trump would say to himself, I am not a very nice person, I need to look
at myself and talk to someone. If only the American people would say, we want
more humane well-adjusted people in office, and we are not going to vote for
these mentally ill people. If only they looked at themselves and said, I need
to wake up and reflect on who I am and what my mental health issues are. The
key is self-reflection in this baseline. For example, I have met and heard
about so many bullies, all of whom I would regard as having mental health issues,
all of whom could do something about that and stop bullying if they woke up and
reflected on themselves and who they are and how they operate. If all the other
personality traits did the same then perhaps the human race would start to
become healthier.
Here is another mental health
disorder. Many of us are obsessed with consuming stuff, and making more stuff
to consume. Businesses and economies are obsessed with eternal growth. Greta
Thunberg realises that eternal growth is a fantasy, an illusion. Yet so many
are asleep and buy into this fantasy, literally. Being self-reflective and
mentally healthy would surely help change this absurd phenomenon.
I have tried to capture just a
little of the evidence for universal mental health issues to try and promote my
baseline of accepting that we all have mental health issues. But then what is
the problem in getting rid of the stigma and accepting this? I think the
problem is that we are scared. Yes Donald Trump included. To be seriously
self-reflective requires allowing ourselves to face this fear, and allowing
ourselves to be vulnerable. Many men who come to therapy struggled to get there
and struggle when they are there because they think it is a sign of weakness.
Their ego is under threat.
The reality is that it takes
great courage to embrace the vulnerability that is needed to be self-reflective
and maybe go for therapy. It is the very opposite of weakness. Perhaps if we
could recognise the courage involved and the opportunity for change we could
get rid of the stigma. I imagine people saying, ‘Isn’t he courageous? He’s gone
for therapy. What a brave person. I wonder if I could be so courageous and deal
with my mental health issues and change my life. Wouldn’t that be wonderful
instead of the negativity of stigma.
