The Minimization of Mental Health Problems

Around the time I entered high school, was when I first learned the importance of mental health. I was introduced to the idea that health is holistic – how physical, mental, and social wellness all play into each other and greatly impact your life. At the time, I thought that this was a great insight. We should definitely be taking care of all aspects of our health, but I didn’t really take mental health seriously. I never thought that I would need to see a therapist. Or rather, I thought that seeing a therapist was something shameful or made me a failure to some degree. But why did I have such a harsh perspective?

Minimization

For many years, I told myself that my problems were of no significance. I compared my life to those of the people around me and decided that my problems were nothing compared to theirs. I didn’t need help because my issues were so small. Compared to them, my suffering was laughable. But why should that be the case? Why should I measure the validity of my suffering based on the severity of suffering experienced by those around me? If I have a broken finger, someone else having a broken arm doesn’t negate this. 

In addition to this, I thought that the only reason you should see a therapist is if you are having a crisis. And I suspect many others share this sentiment. But in no other aspect of health do we hold this viewpoint. Would you wait until your cavity reaches your nerves to go see a dentist? Or ignore an infection until you have sepsis to go see a doctor? Of course not. It makes more sense to see a medical professional when your problems are smaller and more manageable. 

So, when is the right time to see a therapist? Now is the right time. Anytime along your mental health journey is the right time to seek a mental health professional. Especially at UTSC, where we have mental health services covered by the SCSU Extended Health Plan. Rather than waiting for your problems to grow worse, address them early on and do your future self a favour. We all deserve to be heard and receive a helping hand.

Stigma

I believe that the driving force behind the warped perception of mental health is the stigma that still surrounds it today. Talks surrounding mental health in a serious manner are relatively new and there unfortunately remains imposing stigma from the past. Frustratingly, there are many who believe that seeing a mental health professional makes you weak and that distress and pain are things you just have to deal with on your own. If the generations before us survived without therapy and other services, then why do we need them now? 

The simple answer is that we need to more proactively address mental health to move forward as a society. Just because people persevered in times of limited mental health services doesn’t mean we have to do the same. That would be like refusing antibiotics for a bacterial infection because people in the past did without them. Why needlessly endure more pain?

Drawing back to the idea of holistic health, the promotion of mental health would help decrease many societal problems (e.g. substance abuse and homelessness) that are exacerbated as a result of avoidance or inaccessibility of mental health services. Working towards diminishing archaic stigma will not only create a better quality of life for ourselves, but our communities as a whole. So, remember to be kind to yourself and those around you. All of our struggles are valid and it is okay to ask for help. If we work together, we can create a better and more compassionate world for everyone.