Facing a Deadly Reality: The Urgent Need to Address Mental Health and Substance Use Mortality

Mortality associated with MH and substance use disorders is a growing epidemic here in the USA.

So what does that mean?

    It means that there's a problem and LOTS of people are dying because of these illnesses. AND, the systems that are supposed to help them are clearly NOT working very well. There's not enough money/funding, not enough staff with the proper training or staff in general for that matter, and to make matters worse, there's not enough access to these highly underfunded/ understaffed organizations. On Top of it all, the different parts of the system don't even work together very well.

Reality

    Sadly, there's also a huge negative stigma associated with those struggling with their MH or substance use. Even the people who are supposed to help them, like doctors and therapists, sometimes treat them differently because of their biases. 

*Which is not a failure on their part. This is a systemic issue so intertwined within every aspect of our culture that it will take all of us on an individual level to bring about change*

    Due to this invisible burden they are forced to carry, people who need help may not even ask for it because they feel so ashamed or embarrassed.

Q: Is this a reality we are forced to accept?

A: No. There are actionable steps that we can take and things that we can do to help!

• We can be proactive and make sure that we treat people with MH and substance use disorders with kindness + respect.
• We can use words that are accurate and respectful when we talk about them and to them.
• We can also learn more about the science behind how to prevent and treat these illnesses, AND, one of the greatest things we can do is share that knowledge with others.

Together, as a community, we can work to make sure that EVERYBODY has the opportunity to receive help and get better.

Why you should listen to a young adult learning about psychology and how to speak psycho-babble?

    I know this is an important topic that needs to be addressed because I have experienced the MH system first hand. I had (have) MH struggles, AND I was lucky enough to eventually get the treatment and support. Even so, I almost died. TBH I probably should have died due to my physical condition. By the grace of God, I didn't die, and I had support people advocate & DEMAND care based on the basic rights that EVERY person should have. Not everyone is as lucky as I am, and that's NOT okay. We need to make sure that EVERYONE has the basic right to the opportunity to get better, NO matter who they are or where they come from. 

    We can't just sit back and let things stay the way they are. The current systems are flawed, and they do not have the best interest in mind of the people they are devoted to serving. They are only worried about increasing profit margins and making the shareholders happy. How messed up is that? That in a first world country seem to only care about the top .01% which is made up of majority- older, white, wealthy, educated, cis gender men, who are capable and able in every way. 

    How is it that we can passively sit by and allow more people to suffer inhumanely so that the select few can live their best lives?  We need to DEMAND that everyone regardless of any factor, be given the right to the opportunity to receive the help they deserve.

    I chose to pursue MH a social justice because I want to help others who are struggling with MH and substance use. I have seen SO many humans suffer because they didn't get the chance to receive care. Not even the right kind of treatment or help, I'm just talking about basic, general, MH care, and it breaks my heart. I truly feel that by increasing education and access to basic MH first aid we can save lives. We can slowly chisel away at the systematic injustice that has been done. Why do I think this? 

    Because I have seen how much of a difference it can make when we take simple actions like treating ALL people with kindness and respect, and when we use words that are accurate and respectful to them and their culture. I have found that by getting curious and stepping out of my comfort zone and into the brave space of being open, willing to learn, and vulnerable, that I can be a guest in someone else's community and learn how to be kind and respectful in a way that is culturally appropriate and meaningful to them, and it has changed my life in a positive way. 

    By being mindful of everyone's' experiences and perspectives, we can cultivate communities where everyone feels accepted, safe, and heard. This is the first step into establishing a society in which we uplift previously and currently oppressed voices and increase access and education to MH care. 

    I write this blog post in full awareness of my privileges including but are not limited to being thin, having lighter skin- despite not being white, able, and educated. My attempt is to encourage others to share their stories, to learn about the different causes of MH and substance use, and to use language and words that are respectful when talking about these issues. I also want to help in the movement of making sure everyone has the opportunity and the chance to get the MH services they need to recover. 

CTA

    Do you have any experiences with discrimination due to your MH or substance use struggles? Have you found that your experience is different than those of different backgrounds? Let me know in the comments below AND be sure to follow along for more education, tips, and advocacy for MH education and resources. 

    I recommend using the resources throughout my blog, website, and social media accounts located on the resource page that I try to keep updated and accurate. I also hope that we can all learn to use appropriate and respectful language (in attempt to be culturally correct, I have attempted to create all content with the input of people with culturally diverse backgrounds/ those who have traditionally been oppressed, who have also experienced MH and substance use themselves) It's important that we all work together to end stigma and make sure that everyone gets the opportunity to get the resources and support they need to live their best life. 

    Stay tuned for my toolkit on "MH First Aid for EVERYBODY" it's like a special set of tools that can help lots of different people, from multiple walks of life, culture, and experiences, like those who have experienced MH or substance challenges, their families & friends, and anyone interested in early intervention, prevention, and community activism, in hopes of making a difference in the way we think & talk about these struggles 🧠💊

Definition: Stigma-

    When people treat others differently/unfairly or make them feel different/bad just because they have a behavioral health disorder like MH struggle or addiction. It can make people feel powerless, angry, or even frustrated. But with my toolkit, I'm hoping that we can takes the next step in the direction to help empower people and give them practical ways to fight against stigma 💪

Spoiler Alert!

    This toolkit will have lots of helpful information and tips for reducing stigma in different ways. Some ways are simple, like using kind + respectful language when talking about people with behavioral health/ MH struggles, and writing letters to the editor to share diverse/positive messages. Other ways are more involved, like creating a group in your community to take action against these stigmas, and using media and messaging to spread awareness.

    Research shows that the best efforts to prevent and reduce stigma are ones that have many different parts, kind of like putting together a puzzle. This toolkit will hopefully help people learn about different approaches and how they can work together to make a bigger impact. By getting involved in these efforts, not only can we help reduce stigma, but we can also make a meaningful and effective difference So be sure to follow along for first dibs! 🌟🌍