On May 20, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), along with several promotional partners, hosted a panel discussion addressing the stigma surrounding mental health in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.
Moderated by Dr. Andrea Niestas, a wellness coach and psychology professor, the discussion featured four women specializing in the mental health field. Throughout the event, Niestas guided the conversation with thoughtful questions that encouraged the panelists to share their expertise and personal experiences.
The panel opened with a discussion led by Dr. Judith Brannon, a licensed therapist and founder of Empowerment Wellness Consulting, who emphasized the importance of mental health not only for individuals diagnosed with mental illnesses, but for society as a whole.
“Mental health, according to the CDC, is not simply the absence of a mental health condition, but also about the presence of well-being and the ability to thrive. Mental health is the state of well-being that enables us to cope with the stresses of life, realize our abilities, learn well, work well, and contribute to our community…I like to think of mental health as the engine that drives our lives. Everything starts with the mind,” said Dr. Brannon.
Sharon Woolfolk, president of NAMI, also addressed the common misconceptions surrounding mental health and mental illness, particularly the stigma often attached to those experiences.
“Mental illness is often, very often surrounded by this word ‘stigma.’ It’s that negative though, it’s the negative attitude, it’s discrimination, it’s this unfair treatment that individuals experience when they hear that word….It’s one of the most common stigma its the beliefs that mental illness is a personal weakness, or it’s a character flaw rather than a real medical condition,” said Woolfolk.
Woolfolk further emphasized that mental illness should not be viewed as a personal failure, but rather as a legitimate medical condition that can affect anyone.
“In reality, mental illness is a health condition; it’s a medical condition just like heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and it can be influenced by anything. It can be genetics, it could be a brain illness, a brain chemistry, a trauma, stress, or even a lack of being able to socialize with other individuals. And so many people with mental health conditions, they can continue to work, they can continue to care for families, they can contribute to communities, facing these invisible struggles they have every single day,” said Woolfolk.
Panelist Reenie Michelle, founder of I AM WOMAN, also shared her experiences as both a mother advocating for her son with mental illness and someone who has faced her own mental health challenges. During her journey, she discovered healthier coping methods to manage stress and emotional burdens.
“I was having to find a way to relieve the stress that I carry because we live in the same home. And so my way of doing it was through Christ. I am a believer, and the only way that I could manage it was to give it up to the Lord,” said Michelle.
Woolfolk also discussed why stigma surrounding mental health continues to persist. According to her, contributing factors include a lack of education, fear of the unknown, cultural and family beliefs, media stereotypes, fear of discrimination, and longstanding historical attitudes.
“Even though we’ve been out promoting mental wellness, that stigma it still exists,” said Woolfolk.
Additional resources are available for individuals struggling with mental health challenges. Those seeking immediate support can contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.
