Civic Solutions: Reduce the Stigma Surrounding Mental Health by Donating, Talking—or Both

Teenagers are suffering. So are young adults … and middle-aged adults and older adults, too.

Anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation have increased. People are stressed, burned out and/or lonely.

“We have had to acknowledge mental illness in ways like never before, especially after the pandemic,” said Palm Desert City Councilmember Karina Quintanilla ahead of the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Coachella Valley Walk Oct. 14, just four days after World Mental Health Day. “The pandemic may be declared over, but we are all going to feel these effects for a long time.”

Those effects have been worse for some, especially those in populations that have been historically underserved, under-resourced and discriminated against. Mental health care isn’t easy to access. Even for those who have health insurance and time, finding a provider who takes your insurance and is accepting new patients is a feat. (Yes, I know this from experience.)

It’s even more difficult for someone in the middle of a stressful life event or a depressive episode. If, on top of all of these barriers, someone feels ashamed for seeking help due to the stigma regarding mental health—internal or external—they may never get it. That could be lethal.

As a society, we’ve come a long way toward reducing that stigma, but it can still be dangerous to our livelihoods, reputations, social lives and self-esteem to share our struggles openly.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, “Stigma often comes from lack of understanding or fear. Inaccurate or misleading media representations of mental illness contribute to both those factors. A review of studies on stigma shows that while the public may accept the medical or genetic nature of a mental health disorder and the need for treatment, many people still have a negative view of those with mental illness.”

Stigma can make symptoms worse—and recovery less likely.

“The average delay between the onset of mental illness symptoms and treatment is 11 years,” according to NAMI. Some people may never receive treatment.

That stigma can be so debilitating that, in their effort to encourage people to use their free counseling services, the Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine and the Joslyn Center are using the term “strategy” over the more clinical-sounding “therapy.”

One of the best ways to reduce stigma, and gain understanding, is knowing someone with a mental illness. If you don’t think you do, you’re almost certainly incorrect. More than 20% of U.S. adults are living with a diagnosed mental illness, and about one in 25 are living with a serious mental illness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fewer than half of the adults diagnosed with a disorder received treatment in 2021, according to NAMI. More than one in five teens between ages 13 and 18 either has or has had a seriously debilitating mental illness, according to the CDC.

What’s promising is that younger people are more likely to open up about their issues. For example, in one poll by the American Psychiatric Association, “millennials were almost twice as likely as baby boomers to be comfortable discussing their mental health.”

It feels safe to assume that Gen Z, which includes current teenagers, are even better at this than millennials (ages 27-42) like myself.

I’ve been in some type of counseling or therapy since 2019, mostly to address how circumstances from childhood, sometimes unbeknownst to me, have affected my adult life. At times, I’ve been warned about telling others that I’m in therapy—and at times, I took that warning to heart. Now, though, I’m so grateful I had this support system and structure in place prior to the onset of the pandemic and before losing my oldest brother. I’m grateful to that past version myself who chose to seek help. And I’m proud to share that I’m still in therapy, and honestly, I see it in the same way as going to the gym—it’s just routine maintenance.

My family of origin isn’t always supportive or understanding. They should be in therapy, too, but they’re still holding on to that stigma.

NAMI suggests nine ways we can all help reduce stigma:

• Talk openly about mental health.
• Educate yourself and others. 
• Be conscious of language.
• Encourage equality between physical and mental illness.
• Show compassion for those with mental illness.
• Choose empowerment over shame.
• Be honest about treatment.
• Let the media know when they’re being stigmatizing.
• Don’t harbor self-stigma.

It’s important to remember that mental illness—or anguish without a medical-health diagnosis—can happen to anyone. According to the CDC, the risk factors include adverse childhood experiences, such as trauma or a history of abuse; experiences related to other ongoing (chronic) medical conditions, such as cancer or diabetes; biological factors or chemical imbalances in the brain; using alcohol or drugs; and/or feelings of loneliness or isolation.

At this year’s NAMI Coachella Valley Walk, three community members shared their mental-health diagnoses with the crowd gathered in front of the stage at Civic Center Park in Palm Desert. Each also talked about how connecting with NAMI helped them find peer support, learning resources and opportunities for growth. Their participation gave them hope, empowered them and made them feel like they weren’t alone in their journeys.

The message, as spoken by NAMI Coachella Valley board president Christine Thomstad: “Together, we know that mental health for all is more than just a possibility; it can be a reality.”

Money raised through the walk helps fund support and recovery programs for those living with a diagnosis, support for family members and public awareness campaigns. NAMI Coachella Valley also holds free support groups (in-person and virtually).

Other local organizations also have free or sliding-scale (a fee based on income) support groups, counseling and/or case management. Some of these include Riverside University Health System-Behavioral Health, Riverside Latino Commission, DAP Health, the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert Center, and Jewish Family Service of the Desert.