Everyone Is Entitled To An Opinion About Mental Health…
…however there’s a time and place to air it. You’d think by now I’d be used to the little ignorant comments and remarks that are made about mental health (I shouldn’t have to get used to but there you go). It seems everyday there are more conversations happening about mental health/illness which of course can only be a good thing but as always, with the good comes the negative.
I’m sure one day the topic won’t be taboo anymore but I can’t help wish it’d happen sooner.
Honestly, the best advice I can give if you see someone having a mental health crisis, be that a panic attack or threatening self harm, is to be extra mindful of what’s going on. Be sensitive, be caring, be compassionate. Sarcastic comments made in jest are not helpful. They don’t help the person who is suffering, if anything they can make a situation worse. I get that mental health is not easy to understand and may appear like there is nothing wrong but there is, at least to that individual.
I really believe that everybody should take the time out of their day to try and understand, and learn more about, mental health. There’s plenty of resources available to get information if required.
– R