Let’s change how we talk about mental health
What we say to ourselves and others about mental health matters.
We all have mental health and it’s as essential to a person’s life just as physical health. Mental health (https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health) includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act, and shapes how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.
It can be hard for people, families, organizations, and communities to talk about mental health. Not talking about mental health and suicide can increase the risk of people that are struggling and potentially decrease the likelihood that someone will seek help when they need it the most.
Too often, public messaging conveys negative narratives about mental health and suicide. These negative narratives stigmatize mental health and suicide, which can contribute to feelings of uncertainty, shame, and self-loathing that prevent someone from seeking help or putting them at greater risk for harm. Instead, a narrative of hope and resilience can influence how people think, feel, and act and lets us know that there is hope, there is help, and suicide is preventable.
What we say to ourselves and others can encourage hope, celebrate life and help ourselves and others understand that help is available, suicide is preventable and mental illnesses are treatable.
Ideas for action to start the conversation with yourself about your mental health:
▪ Know that you are never alone. Do you have crisis numbers available or a plan if you do feel like you get into a state of emotional crisis?
▪ Identify what you do and don’t have control over.
▪ Manage your own life and take responsibility for your actions.
▪ Seek help and support from family, friends, or health care professionals during times of need.
Social media posts to share
▪ Starting the conversation around mental health doesn’t have to be heavy. It can be as simple as asking “what’s going on?” Seize the Awkward (https://seizetheawkward.org/conversation/starting-the-conversation) has tips and opening lines to help make starting the conversation easier. #YouMatterMN #StartTheConversation
▪ We are less alone when we turn to each other. The Mental Health Coalition (https://www.thementalhealthcoalition.org/belonging/ has tips for fostering connection and how to find people to connect through technology. #YouMatterMN #StartTheConversation
▪ Sometimes it is hard to know when you need to connect with someone to support you with your mental health. If you want to learn more about when you may need to get support, check out the My Mental Health (https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/my-mental-health-do-i-need- help) infographic from the National Institute of Mental Health. #YouMatterMN #StartTheConversation
▪ Seek help during times of struggle with loneliness or isolation by reaching out to a family member, friend, counselor, health care provider, or 988 Minnesota Lifeline by calling or texting 9-8-8 or use the 988 online chat (https://chat.988lifeline.org/) feature. #YouMatterMN #StartTheConversation