World Mental Health Day 2015: Dignity in Mental Health
It’s been said: “Symptoms are not a barrier to recovery, but attitude is.” And that’s so true. Our attitudes can easily create bigger problems for people with mental illness than the illness itself does. Imagine how it would feel if you constantly had to prove yourself. If you constantly had to demand respect, when others around you could take it for granted. If you couldn’t even be upset without explanation.
Those are just a few ways dignity can be threatened. I’m sure you can imagine a few more. The point is, the way we treat people matters. And the closer we are to them, the more our attitude matters. And treating people with dignity can make almost as much difference as medical treatment. Maybe even more.
Mental illness is a big enough challenge on its own. Let’s treat people in ways that minimise that and not ways that worsen it. Everyone, without exception, deserves to be treated with dignity.
Do you know someone with mental health problems? How can you treat them with dignity today?
For more information about how to support people with mental illness, and an approach to mental health first aid, check out this post. (If the link isn’t showing properly on your device, you can copy and paste it into your browser search bar.)
