Talking about mental health: The cracks and slips
IGNORING A WARNING SIGN
Does talking about self-harm make matters worse? If these conversations are avoided, people who are suffering will be even more reluctant to talk about what they are going through. Asking if someone is having suicidal thoughts doesn't increase their risk for acting on them, contrary to a commonly held belief. If you know someone who may be considering self-harm, talk to him or her immediately – before it's too late. Help them find support and do your best to keep them safe.
MISUNDERSTANDING SOMEONE IN DISTRESS
We often confuse depression with sadness. While we all feel bouts of sadness every now and then, depression is a prolonged feeling of emptiness – almost as if all the energy was drained out of us. It's being unable to get out of bed and doing everyday activities, and enjoying things which make us happy. What we shouldn't forget is that sadness is a common emotion – everyone feels it at some time or another. But depression is an illness. One that has physiological connotations and one which may require medical help.
TRIVIALISING A DISORDER
Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) has become so common that we forget about the disorder itself. Many believe OCD to be a personality quirk. People with OCD can have their lives turned upside down on a regular basis due to obsessive thoughts that they cannot always control.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
The power of having a good listener in our lives cannot be overstated. They may not be experts at solving the struggles that we face, but they are willing to hear us out, even if it is for the sole purpose to let us vent.
Let's stand by our loved ones when we sense that they are going through difficult times. Sometimes the most important step towards healing is having someone who listens and understands.
This article is part of a series for an ongoing campaign on mental health #ThankYouForListening, led by BRAC. The authors work at BRAC Communications.
Comments