Breaking the Stigma

Each and every one of us can make a difference in breaking the stigmas of mental health – not just those struggling with mental illness. You do not have to be an expert to help, and sometimes the smallest change can make a significant difference in a person's life. When we choose to learn, talk, and approach mental health in an inclusive and understanding way, we create an environment where everyone can ask for help without fear, find real support, and have the opportunity to live a full and meaningful life.

• It is worth preparing simple and clear answers to common questions in advance: When someone asks "What happened to you?", you can explain that it is a medical illness like any other, which is treated professionally. It is worth avoiding overly complex or personal details, and instead focus on the basic message – that it is a treatable medical condition.
• Choose an appropriate time and place for the conversation, and start with people who seem open and supportive: It is worth clarifying in advance with yourself, or with the help of a loved one or a therapist, what things you want to share, when and with whom. It is important that the sharing comes from a place where you feel protected and your personal boundaries are not violated. In addition, it is worth remembering that even if the response you receive is negative, it does not reflect anything on you but on the lack of knowledge of the other party.
• Take advantage of opportunities and personal stories to raise awareness: If you decide to share your struggles widely and openly with others, it is important to consult with someone close to you or with a therapist beforehand. Open voices that talk about anxiety, depression, or trauma encourage space for real conversation. Personal stories from people who have experienced a crisis and returned to active lives dispel the myth that seeking help is associated with weakness, and make it clear that mental coping is part of the cycle of life. At the same time, it is important that this is done in a way that is consistent with your boundaries and protects you.

Dealing with stigma in the workplace

The workplace is a particularly important arena for breaking stigmas. People spend a large part of their time at work and create a professional identity for themselves. It is important to know that there are legal rights for people with mental health issues at work, and that employers are obligated to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary. Legislation such as the Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities Law sends a clear message to the public: People with mental health issues are entitled to the same rights, opportunities, and respect as anyone else. But a legal framework alone is not enough.

Human resources workers and managers can create a supportive and accessible work environment by creating accommodations in the work environment, holding lectures to raise awareness, establishing internal support groups, and establishing a clear policy against discrimination. Employees can contribute by avoiding the use of offensive language and creating a climate of acceptance and mutual support.

Using social media

Social media can be a powerful tool for breaking stigmas, but it is important to use them in a calculated and safe manner. When choosing to share your mental state online, it is worth thinking in advance about who will see the post and how it may be interpreted, and consulting with a loved one or the person providing care before publishing the post. You can also limit the target audience of the post to only friends or a specific closed group to examine the reactions and their impact on you.

Social media offers an opportunity to fight stigma and convey a message that is important to you or to tell your personal story, but it is important to remember to protect yourself and your boundaries. It is also worth being prepared for negative reactions and knowing how to respond to them. Sometimes it is better not to get into arguments and delete offensive reactions. In serious cases, you can block users or report them to the platform.

In addition, you can join support communities – groups of people who share similar experiences and can provide support and encouragement. Such communities can help you feel less alone and receive practical tips for coping.

Community and social activity

Everyone can take an active part in breaking stigmas through community activity. The accepted approach today is the integration and adaptation of people with disabilities in community frameworks and activities that are open to the general public, in areas such as health, education, housing, employment and leisure. This is based on the understanding that we live in a heterogeneous society, where each person has their issues to deal with, and the challenge is to create a group that can accommodate these adjustments and give each person their place and needs, while at the same time allowing the group to function and complete the goal for which it was established – whether it is a class at school, a smoking prevention workshop at the HMO, or a macramé class at a community center. The benefit here is twofold: Both for the group that integrates people who are coping with a disability and for the person coping individually.

In mental health, there are a variety of organizations of people coping with disabilities and of families of those coping with disabilities. Within the framework of these organizations, there are activities to raise awareness, reduce stigma, provide information and tools, provide guidance, support, and mutual assistance. Whether it is volunteering or working for a salary within these organizations, or in treatment and rehabilitation settings, doing things for others contributes to a sense of empowerment and gives meaning not only to the person coping with disabilities who chose to be active, but also to those who received the help they provide, who can draw inspiration from the strengths and experience they bring.

Every action matters

When we look at a person only through a diagnosis, we miss the full picture. Every person is a combination of strengths, connections, aspirations and a life story. Even if the mental struggle accompanies them, it does not define them. When society sees the person as a whole, not just as a "person dealing with mental health", it allows them to live a full life, in accordance with the desires and goals they have set for themselves.

We live in a heterogeneous society where each person has their own story and their own struggle, and it is important to remember that words build reality – whether at home, among friends, on social networks or in the workplace. When you choose to use respectful language and avoid offensive expressions, you contribute to a broad change in consciousness. When we listen without judging and respond to prejudices in our environment, we build a safer space for everyone. Beyond the issue of using language and listening, there is another level where you can choose to be more active in raising awareness, to integrate into a group that is heterogeneous by definition and to provide an opportunity to get to know other people personally.

Every action, small or large, contributes to breaking stigma and creating a more inclusive society. The key is to understand that stigma is not a problem of a specific person, but a product of social and cultural processes – and therefore we can all be part of the solution.