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gettingfitforzombies:

I read this post by hotasshannah this morning and it really made me think, once again, about the stigma surrounding mental health.

I’ve made it one of my life goals to raise as much awareness about mental health as I can. As a sufferer of various mental disorders, I want to make a positive change for everybody who suffers from a mental illness or an addiction. To me, one of the most important and positive changes that could be made would be to influence society’s view on the reality of mental health.

I’ve said this before on my other blog, but so often I hear the following phrases and it makes me want to smash people’s heads into a window:

• “Why don’t you just try to be a little happier?” (to somebody with depression)
• “Why don’t you just eat something?” (to somebody with anorexia)
• “Why don’t you just not drink alcohol?” (to somebody with an alcohol addiction)
• “Why don’t you just not cut yourself?” (to somebody who self harms)

Often, these suggestions are proposed in a well-meaning manner, but then you get the less-than-well-meaning morons who make ridiculous assumptions like this:

• “You cut; therefore you are a pathetic emo pre-teen.”
• “You are anorexic; therefore you are vain and self-centred.”
• “You are fat; therefore you cannot have an eating disorder.”
• “You are an addict; therefore you are a criminal drug lord.”

The problem is that people do not understand. We can get angry and pissed off about this all we like, but it won’t change things (though that isn’t to say that you’re not allowed to get angry and pissed off). The only way that change can be implemented is if we educate people.

Before you rant to me about the futility of trying to ‘change the world’, hear me out.

I had somebody say to me recently that I got too upset about issues and needed to back down a bit. After all, she told me, I’m just one person: how am I supposed to make any change in the world?

I got very upset about this. If everybody said this - ‘I’m just one person’ - then how would change ever happen? All successful charities and organizations began with one person or a small group of people. What makes these groups successful and turns them into powerful paragons of change is a common goal amongst strangers. These groups start off as a tiny voice and blossom into powerful organizations whose supporters are complete strangers united by a desire to change the world.

Think about it: there are 7 billion people in the world. In 2001, the World Health Organization estimated that there were over 450 million people in the world suffering from some form of mental health problem at that time.

That’s over 450 million voices.

If 450 million voices can’t make a difference, what can?

By making a difference, I don’t mean changing society’s view on mental health overnight. Little things like the following can build up to make a very big impact:

• Tell your family and friends a little bit about your mental health issues and explain to them what these disorders really consist of. You don’t have to go into any great detail but, as the saying goes, change begins with you.
• Start a website or a blog dedicated to informing people about mental health and what they can do to help raise awareness too.
• Take part in Mental Health Awareness Week or World Mental Health Day(or any other awareness-raising event) by letting people know about any events related to these or by wearing.
• Run a race (or some other challenge) and have people sponsor you to fundraise for your favourite mental health charity or organization. People won’t sponsor you for something that they don’t understand, so this is an opportunity for you to educate them!
• Wear merchandise (eg. wristbands or ribbons) that represent your favourite charities. Another option is handing out leaflets for certain charities or putting up posters.

The following are my favourite mental health charities. They have all been helpful to me at one point or another, either through their online information or their support services. These links will take you to their pages about raising both awareness and funds:

• SANE (mental health awareness and support service)
• Mind (mental health awareness and support service)
• Samaritans (mental health and crisis support service)
• YoungMinds (mental health awareness and support service for children and adolescents)
• B-eat (eating disorder awareness and support service)

Making a difference doesn’t always involve giving away money or doing something drastic. Research your favourite charities in your country and see what you can do to help.

Change the world today.