Hello Everyone, COL (Ret) Mikel Burroughs here reaching out to everyone and I’d like to invite you to Warriors for Life (WFL) Virtual Group Support Community Services TONIGHT with the “Colonel” hosting!
Invite a Friend, tell a friend, and share with your friends!
Get involved and connected with Veterans, Service Members, First Responders, Military Families/Spouses, and Caretakers every Saturday Night!
TONIGHT’s Topic: “Mental Health Stigma!”
Unfortunately, in many societies, mental health and emotional issues are seen as less legitimate than physical illnesses, considered a weakness or as being the fault of the person, something they should be able to “snap out of.” This societal stigma causes people to bottle up what they’re feeling rather than ask for help, contributing significantly to the overall problem.
How do we become more aware of stigma? It’s usually easier to take a look at ourselves first before we try to change the rest of the world. To that end, here’s a brief self-assessment quiz on stigma and mental illness. Answer honestly; no one else will need to know your answers:
True or False:
1. There’s no real difference between the terms “mentally ill” and “has a mental illness.”
2. People with mental illness tend to be dangerous and unpredictable.
3. I would worry about my son or daughter marrying someone with a mental illness.
4. I’ve made fun of people with mental illness in the past.
5. I don’t know if I could trust a co-worker who has a mental illness.
6. I’m scared of or stay away from people who appear to have a mental illness.
7. People with a mental illness are lazy or weak and need to just “get over it.”
8. Once someone has a mental illness, they will never recover.
9. I would hesitate to hire someone with a history of mental illness.
10. I’ve used terms like “crazy,” “psycho,” “nut job,” or “retarded” in reference to someone with a mental illness.
The scoring is simple: One point for every true response. Unless your score is zero, you have had thoughts, feelings, or behaviors which can contribute to increased stigma toward people with mental illness. The higher your score, the more likely it is you have had these types of experiences. If you scored a zero, congratulate yourself.
Tune in TONIGHT with the “Colonel” as we discuss (5) Steps to Reduce Stigma about mental illness. Keep your score and the quiz to yourself…
