I’m sure many of us are guilty of doing this:
“I just stood in a queue for half an hour, I’m so traumatized”.
or
“They canceled my favorite TV show. I’m so depressed”.
or
“This non-stop rain is enough to make you feel suicidal”.
or
“She’s so bipolar when it’s that time of the month”.
The other day I was listening to the radio and the presenter made a remark saying: “These power cuts are making me feel suicidal”. I really took issue with that as I have a GREAT deal of experience when it comes to the topic of suicide. In fact, I consider myself an expert on the topic as I have lost numerous family members to suicide. I myself have attempted suicide multiple times in my life. And I now counsel and help others out of crisis situations.
I reached out to the station with a friendly comment and their response was: “Thanks”. I posted about it on my Facebook profile and there were people who felt really offended by my offense saying that I should stop trying to tell others what to say, and stop being such a snowflake.
I can assure you, suicide is anything but a joking matter. Yes, those who have been there sometimes joke about it. Not because it’s funny but because it’s a coping mechanism. We often use humor as a coping mechanism to respond to traumatic experiences. Those who have been there can do this, you can’t. It’s a bit like you jokingly insulting your sibling. You can do it, others can’t. But — you also shouldn’t.
Mental illness is a serious issue that affects hundreds of millions of people around the world. Unfortunately, it’s all too often trivialized in popular culture and used as a punchline to get laughs at the expense of those who struggle with mental health issues.
We need to do better.
Why Does This Happen?
One reason why mental health is so often treated as a joke is because there’s still a stigma attached to it. People are afraid to talk about their mental health issues or seek help for fear of being judged or ostracized by their peers. By making light of these issues, it can make them seem less serious and therefore easier to ignore.
Another issue is the language we use on an everyday basis. Terms such as “OCD,” “schizophrenic,” and “depressed” are thrown around casually in conversations without any real understanding of what they mean or how they might affect someone living with such an illness. We should be mindful of how our words can diminish real experiences and not use terms related to mental illness lightly.
How Can We Do Better?
The first step is education; we need to understand more about mental illness and its effects on individuals and society as a whole. There are plenty of resources available online for anyone looking for more information on this topic, such as counseling services, support groups, and books written by experts on the subject matter.
Additionally, we can strive to change the narrative around mental health by having open and honest conversations with friends, family members, colleagues, etc., and encouraging others to do the same. We also need to hold one another accountable by kindly pointing out trivializations.
As we become more educated on this important topic, we can start changing how it’s viewed in society and creating an environment where those who are struggling can feel comfortable getting help without fear of judgment or stigma.
Let’s all commit to doing better when it comes to discussing mental health!
