BETTER FAMILIES
by
Jomo Phillips MSSW-MFT (Clinical Fellow AAMFT)
Couple & Family Therapist/Clinical Social Worker
One of my favourite quotes, which I often share when I am teaching social work students and dialoguing with clinical supervisees about mental health stigma, comes from the narrative therapists Michael White and David Epston. “The problem is the problem; the person is not the problem.” This quote captures the power of mental health diagnostic labels and how mental health labels can define and stigmatise people experiencing mental health conditions.
Mental health stigma remains one of the most significant barriers to accessing help for persons struggling with mental health conditions. Mental health stigma is also a double-edged sword, often preventing loved ones from providing the necessary support to a family member experiencing a mental health condition. Mental health stigma also operates at the systemic level and affects people with mental health conditions access to essential opportunities like housing and jobs. Stigmatisation also works in the health care system. It affects the amount of current investment in mental health care, the level of care provided to people with mental health conditions, and the culture in organisations providing mental health care.
The all-encompassing nature of mental health stigma might make it seem almost impossible to address. Still, people living with mental health conditions and their loved ones can adopt strategies to fight mental health stigma and create more equitable conditions for people living with mental health challenges. Stigma often contributes to people blaming themselves for their situation. A potent antidote to stigma is when people recognise that their mental illness does not reflect a character flaw. Some of my most powerful moments with clients are when they come to the recognition that “I am not responsible” for the depression or anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Instead, their mental illness reflects a constellation of factors, including genetic heritage, trauma history, the experience of stress, and even injustice.
I have found this recognition that ‘the condition is not my fault’ becomes bolstered when people also recognise that they are not alone in experiencing this condition. Stigma is even more powerful when people feel alone. I know many of my clients have found comfort when they have located communities of support made up of people who are experiencing similar mental health challenges. Some examples include my clients living with an addiction finding community in 12 step groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. I also have several clients who have found community in online forums for persons who have survived violence and sexual and physical abuse. These groups provide opportunities for people to have others witness their stories and validate their experiences.
The support of loved ones is critical in recovery from and management of mental health conditions. As someone interested in relationships, I am always curious about who my clients can count on in their corner as they strive to get better. Because of mental health stigma, many family members and loved ones might experience difficulty supporting the client experiencing a mental health challenge. Stigma thrives on misinformation; as a therapist, I try to counter this misinformation by filling up supporters of my clients with accurate information about the condition. I also help supporters address guilt and fear by recognising that their loved one’s condition is not their fault. As importantly, we discuss how they can support themselves as they continue to aid and support their loved ones. This support often comes from talking to others and widening their support circle by involving relatives and friends and sometimes getting involved in support groups. Many of my clients’ relatives and friends have found personal satisfaction in advocating for their loved one and for others experiencing similar challenges.
Fighting stigma is multi-pronged. It involves people living with mental health conditions recognising that their condition is not their fault – “the problem is the problem; the person is not the problem”- and making an effort to connect with a supportive community. Family members and loved ones can fight stigma by addressing misinformation, gaining support, and becoming advocates. Ultimately, addressing stigma leads to better health outcomes for people living with mental health conditions.
Jomo Phillips, MSSW-MFT (Clinical Fellow AAMFT) is a Couple & Family Therapist and Clinical Social Worker ([email protected])
THE SUPPORT OF LOVED ONES IS CRITICAL IN RECOVERY FROM AND MANAGEMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS.
