7 initial ways you can be a better mental health ally and advocate

Approximately 1 in 5 American adults experience mental illness every year. Even if you don't live with mental illness, someone close to you likely does.

"Mental health is a community issue," says mental health activist Dior Vargas. And that means we should do our part in providing a community of acceptance and support.

Portrayals of mental illness in the media and culture at large, however, haven't exactly created an environment in which conversations about mental health can thrive. Society often paints people with depression or anxiety as complainers who fake their conditions, while Hollywood often depicts people with mental illness as violent criminals or individuals beyond help.

"Mental health is a community issue."

"Much of the stigma around mental health is rooted in fear," says Davia Roberts, an therapist based in Austin, Texas. "There's a stereotype that people with mental illnesses are a threat and danger to the public."

This negative stigma and perpetuated stereotypes create a culture of misinformation and silence around what mental health is, and what it's like to live with mental illness.

But people like Vargas and Roberts are creating safe spaces and starting conversations about mental health -- and you can, too.

Here are seven things you can do to promote mental health and battle stigma in your community.

1. Educate yourself.

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As a mental health advocate, you should go out of your way to seek knowledge for yourself and others.

One of the biggest misconceptions about mental illness is that it's all one thing. But depression, anxiety, schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder, for example, are all very different illnesses, and they can range from mild to severe. If you want to be an ally to people living with mental illness, you have understand what it actually is. But that doesn't mean asking them to explain it to you.

"When people are living these experiences, it's a burden to have to educate others when they could make a conscious effort and do the research," Vargas tells Mashable. 

Educating yourself on mental illness also includes unlearning a lot of negative stereotypes, and you need to be willing to correct yourself.

You can start with informational resources from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the World Health Organization (WHO).

2. Check on those around you.

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Whether or not you know someone who lives with a mental illness, simply asking, "How are you feeling?" opens a safe space for them.

"A lot of people with mental illnesses can feel like they don't matter or that they are a burden to others," Vargas says. It's important to show genuine interest and let them know you are available if they want to talk.

"There are several different diagnoses that can easily pass under the radar, especially depression or anxiety," Roberts adds. Even if you think someone seems OK and they say "I'm fine," give them the opportunity to let you know if they're not.

Be genuine, but avoid being overbearing -- simply knowing someone is willing to listen is a source of comfort for those who already feel like they aren't being heard.

3. Ask how you can help.

If someone discloses their mental health status to you, a great way to show support is to follow up with, "Is there any way I can help you?"

"It's important to remember that mental health looks different for everyone."

Asking this question ensures that you will be equipped to help those around you in a way that will be most beneficial to them -- not just convenient for you.

"It's important to remember that mental health looks different for everyone, and that everyone needs a different level of support," Roberts says.

You should never assume that you know what someone needs.

"Everyone copes with and treats their mental illness differently," Vargas says, whether that means needing a text message to remind them to take medication, or simply needing a pep talk in the mornings before they start the day.

4. Be careful with your words.

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The language we use when discussing mental health can contribute to negative stigma and the lack of seriousness with which many act toward it. Calling people "crazy" both devalues the experiences of people who live with mental illness and attributes mental illness to people who might just be passionate or unusual.  

"Too often, people are subjected to judgment and ridicule," Roberts says. "This reality can lead many people to withdraw due to a fear of stigma and misunderstanding."

As an advocate and ally, you should always be cognizant of how your language can contribute to that stigma. You can find alternatives to "crazy" and other insensitive words here.

"People have a tendency to use this negative and passive language when discussing mental health. We don't suffer from mental illness, but live with it," Vargas says.

Most importantly: If you're not sure how someone describes their experience with mental illness, ask sensitively and responsibly.

5. Engage others in conversations about mental health.

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Ignoring mental health or mental illness doesn't make it go away. In certain demographics, like people of color and men, for example, conversations about mental health can be especially taboo. This is when it's most important to be vocal.

"Being an advocate also means taking the time to educate others."

Engaging others can mean different things. Sometimes it means "having difficult conversations about mental health when we recognize someone experiencing possible symptoms," Roberts says.

But sharing an article about mental health via social media can be just as engaging. Starting the conversation in any capacity gives others the opportunity to think about their own mental health.

"Being an advocate also means taking the time to educate others when someone responds with stereotypical and harmful statements about mental health and people with mental illnesses," Roberts says. 

Advocacy is easy when people agree with you, but it's crucial to engage people who may not be as informed about mental health. These interactions, though more difficult, are important in breaking down stereotypes and ending negative stigma.

6. Take care of your own mental health.

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"We all have bad days and we get angry," Vargas says. "We shouldn't think emotions are bad or ignore them."

"Everyone can benefit from therapy."

In making an effort to help others, it's easy to forget to take care of yourself. The best mental health advocates lead by example. Talk about how you're feeling and take care of yourself -- and that includes rejecting the stigma that persists around therapy.

"Sadly, there are a lot of people with a false idea that therapy is restricted for people with a mental illness," Roberts says. "In fact, everyone can benefit from therapy. Therapy allows people to gain insight about who they are and use this knowledge to better cope with difficulties and navigate life."

When you're wiling to be more honest about how you're feeling, and make it acceptable to express yourself, you create an environment in which others feel comfortable doing the same.

7. Express empathy.

When you can't relate to what someone is going through, can't help them or just don't know what to do, rely on empathy. It can make a big difference in someone's life.

"We need to remember that no one is defined by their mental illness," Roberts says. "They are still a person and need to be acknowledged for who they are."

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) says it's important to consider that someone may be coming from a place of fear, confusion or hurt. If we imagine how we might deal in similar situations, "we allow ourselves to develop solutions that will be intuitive and accessible."

Living with a mental illness is not easy, but it can help someone to know others understand and don't see them differently because of it.

If you want to talk to someone or are experiencing suicidal thoughts, text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. For international resources, this list is a good place to start.

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