The idea of reaching out to someone and asking for help in a mental health context isn’t an easy one. In fact, for many of us, it’s daunting, terrifying, and relatively undesirable, hence why so many of us choose to remain silent in our fight with mental health, I believe.
For a very long time, mental health has been a stigmatized concept. The reception towards mental health in a general social sense has definitely improved in the past while, but like anything else, there is still a lot of progress to be made.
Personally, I believe a lot of the hesitancy associated with being vulnerable and asking for mental health help stems from a fear of being perceived as weak. I would argue this mindset is still very prevalent in conversations about men’s mental health in particular, but the apprehension to be entirely open with someone and ask for assistance in terms mental wellness is absolutely apparent in society today, regardless of the person.
Asking for mental health help may seem like an overwhelming task, but I promise you, it doesn’t have to be. Reaching out to someone you know and trust is an important first step, and after accomplishing this feat, you’ll likely find the rest of the process not so difficult. Ensuring you talk to someone who you feel completely and utterly comfortable with is essential in asking for help.
It’s also important to state to the person you choose to reach out to whether you would like their direct help, the help of someone else, or you’re simply looking to vent. Establishing the purpose of you reaching out will also help make the entire process less uncomfortable.
If you’re contemplating asking someone for help, I urge you to do so. The stigma surrounding mental health discussions will not change unless we work together to normalize this sort of conversation.
ontheedgeofeverything 