Mocking Mental Health

Ways To Mock Mental Health 

People are afraid to seek help and treatment because they may be judged, ridiculed and

shunned by others or they may judge themselves and as a result, many individuals live in

silence about their undiagnosed mental health disorders. Many of us shame or stigmatize

mental health and they do not even know it.

Casually using terms such as “depressed” or ‘OCD” to describe daily feelings

Overusing these terms in everyday vocabulary to express your immediate feelings without realizing these terms should not be so loosely used. These are clinical disorders that affect individuals and families all over the world. By using these terms loosely to describe a present mood or attitude, it trivializes these mental health conditions and as a result, many people do not take these disorders seriously when in fact they are devastating for many.

Referring to others as “psycho” or “crazy”

Catch yourself if you use these adjectives to insult individuals when these insults actually contribute to the stigma associated with psychological issues. These adjectives perpetuate the idea that individuals with mental instability should be ashamed or feared instead of supported. Often individuals think these off-the-cuff remarks are harmless, but the reality is that they hurt those living with mental illnesses, and their families and they increase the misperceptions about the issues. We need to be more aware of the verbiage that we use in everyday life.

Labelling someone based on their illness

Labelling individuals as “schizophrenic” or “bipolar” instead of calling them by their name or addressing them as “that schizophrenic guy/girl” dehumanizes sufferers. Mental illness is one part of an individual, as he or she should not only be known for their label. The terms “schizophrenic” or “bipolar” are stigmatizing because they reduce the whole person to a diagnostic label.

Judging or mocking someone based on their unusual behaviour

Emotional instability can cause individuals to act in abnormal ways however when others joke, make fun or shame them either in person or on social media; it directly supports bullying and can result in worsening their mental health as well as perpetuating the stigma.

We all have a role to play in reducing and eliminating mental health stigma. If you hear it, correct it. If you read it, show it to others and explain to them why it is wrong. If you think it, look in the mirror and ask yourself, “Do I really want to be someone who discriminates against another person who is living with a brain disease?”