Have you ever been feeling sad, and someone tells you to get over it? Have you ever been anxious, and someone tells you to just stop worrying? Have you ever been labelled depressed, bipolar, psycho? Have you ever been told your emotions were a phase? That if you tried harder, it would improve?

Reflection journal

Have you ever been feeling sad, and someone tells you to get over it? Have you ever been anxious, and someone tells you to just stop worrying? Have you ever been labelled depressed, bipolar, psycho? Have you ever been told your emotions were a phase? That if you tried harder, it would improve?

This is the reality mental illness sufferers go through every day. This is the stigma associated with mental health. Mental illness has been hard to comprehend for our world, seen by some as something the sufferer can control, something that is self-inflicted, something that is the sufferers’ fault.

Think

Discuss what stigma is
Many believe that stigma surrounding mental health is “socially constructed”. Discuss what that means, and why you think it may exist. You may need to do a little research
Discuss in what ways are mental illnesses stigmatized. Provide specific examples.

Watch

Go to This is “My Brave” and select one of the stories of people overcoming stigma and being successful despite their mental illness and watch.

Reflect

What are the consequences of stigmatizing mental illness? What can you do as a college student to reduce stigma in mental illness?

Watch: Kenadie Cobbin-Richardson performs, “I Can’t Breathe”