Earlier this year, tennis star Naomi Osaka withdrew from two major tournaments. She cited her reason as not wanting to participate in the mandatory press conferences. Then she did something brave. She shared with the world that she had suffered from depression for years and that the stress of those press conferences impacted not only her mentality and her game but also her mental health.
She is one example of a growing number of celebrities, professional athletes, and more to publicly advocate for mental health. Using their voice to increase awareness, they are helping to take down the wall of stigma and lay the foundation for more access to mental health services, including treatment for substance abuse.
Normalizing Mental Health
Celebrities with a public platform, television press conferences, and millions of Instagram followers have a louder voice than most. When they speak up, it normalizes mental health and validates the suffering of people worldwide. They have a unique opportunity to use their platform to promote change, even if they do so at a greater risk than most.
Celebrities are not the only ones with power, however. People in all walks of life have the opportunity to normalize mental health in their personal and professional lives. Like any other medical information, there are appropriate times and ways to discuss mental health. When those opportunities arise, taking advantage of them will promote the conversation and normalize mental health for others. Taking cues from celebrities as they disclose their own struggles can create those opportunities for discussion.
Raising Awareness By Speaking Up
Awareness does not happen overnight, nor does it happen by waiting for someone else to start the conversation. Working mental health into conversations regarding employee benefits, medical leave, and other human resource issues can normalize the conversation surrounding treatment for addiction or mental health. Eventually, these discussions can become similar to how people discuss treatments for medical conditions, much like surgery, family leave, and more.
Conversations about motivation and productivity are perfect opportunities to speak up and advocate for mental health awareness and services that increase productivity and decrease absences. Training leadership and employees to watch for signs of depression and anxiety can also help increase productivity and promote overall health among employees.
Speaking up about mental health does not have to mean standing up in the middle of a board meeting and disclosing personal experiences with addiction or mental health. Nor does it mean wearing a placard in the employee parking lot that says “Talk to me about mental health”. Raising awareness can be as simple as one conversation at a time.
Replacing Stigma with Information
The stigma around substance abuse and mental health is well known. Like any societal ignorance, much of the fears and behaviors surrounding stigma dissipate when replaced with information. When there are signs of stigma or discrimination regarding mental health in the professional environment, being willing to clarify misconceptions with clarity and calmness allows others to learn. Ideally, this process prevents future misunderstandings.
Discrimination surrounding mental health is becoming increasingly less common as more information is given through word of mouth, social media, and mainstream media. Laws have changed and are now prohibiting discrimination in the workplace. They also are increasing opportunities for personal and medical leave (as necessary) for addiction or mental health treatment. By being educated and being willing to replace old stigma in the workplace, more people are able to feel comfortable discussing mental health.
Creating Safety and Opportunities for Education
By being well-informed about the medical terminology, symptoms, treatments, and laws about mental health, it is easier to educate and advocate within the professional environment. Providing resources and fostering open and fact-based discussions about mental health in a work environment creates a feeling of safety for others to also discuss mental health and substance abuse.
Equally important is providing education such as materials, meetings, conferences, and resources for finding mental health and addiction treatment within the professional setting. Many do not seek out care for substance abuse or mental health care simply because they lack the information on how and where to access it, or what their insurance benefits will cover as well.
Living By Example
The most powerful way to advocate for mental health in the professional environment is to live by example. Having examples of people who work each day to attain and maintain mental health through therapy and doctor visits, regular exercise, attending meetings, and more provides the opportunity for others to see wellness in action. They also will realize that open mental health is an attainable goal. Integrity is the most powerful form of advocacy.
More celebrities and athletes in the public eye are advocating and sharing mental health experiences. This creates new opportunities for others in the professional environment to also advocate for substance abuse and mental health treatment. Normalizing these issues by providing a human face to them and being willing to speak up in appropriate ways helps to break the stigma surrounding them. Educating and creating safety around mental health discussions in the workplace helps to create access and provide resources for mental wellness. Rancho Milagro Recovery is a residential treatment facility for substance abuse in Temecula, California. Our clients range from those in the public eye to those who have opportunities to advocate for mental health every day. We treat both addiction and co-occurring mental health diagnoses with experience and compassion. Call us at (951) 526-4582 to begin your own treatment process. Your recovery can also be the starting point of your advocacy for wellness.