Talking About Mental Health: Breaking the Stigma

by Suzie Booth, Counsellor/Psychotherapist, MSc. MBACP (accred.)

Talking about mental health can feel daunting, but it’s one of the most powerful ways we can look after ourselves and support others. Yet so many people hold back from opening up; often because of stigma. Sometimes it’s the stigma they believe others carry about mental health, and sometimes it’s the stigma they carry themselves.

So, let’s take a closer look at where this stigma comes from, how it affects us, and what we can do to challenge it.

What Is Mental Health?

In our society, we often split ourselves into two separate categories: mental health and physical health, as if there’s a barrier between our heads and the rest of our bodies. But in reality, we are one person, one body, one being. Mental health and physical health constantly interact. Our emotional wellbeing affects our bodies, and our bodies affect how we feel mentally.

When people talk about 'mental health', they’re usually thinking of emotional, psychological, social, and behavioural wellbeing. But just as with physical health, mental health exists on a spectrum.

The Spectrum of Mental Health

With physical health, we accept that there’s a wide range of experiences. We might be a little run down, have a cold, or something more serious like the flu. At the other end of the spectrum, someone might need surgery or receive a serious diagnosis. We recognise that physical health covers everything from minor niggles to life-changing conditions.

The same is true for mental health. We can feel a bit worried, stressed, or low, just as normal and human as having a sniffle. But difficulties can also become more severe, such as experiencing ongoing depression, anxiety disorders, or psychosis.

The problem is that many people assume talking about mental health means something is “serious” or “dangerous.” That perception often stops people from opening up when they’re struggling at the milder end of the spectrum, which can cause issues to build up over time.

Why Does Mental Health Stigma Still Exist?

Even with all the progress we’ve made, stigma still surrounds mental health. Media portrayals often fuel stereotypes, depicting people with mental health challenges as dangerous, violent, or incapable of leading fulfilling lives. These images overshadow the reality; mental health difficulties are far more common and far more varied than the stereotypes suggest.

What we often miss are the countless subtle examples, characters in books, films, or even fairy tales (think Tigger with ADHD, Wendy with co-dependency, Eeyore with low mood and Piglet with anxiety) who are clearly struggling with emotions or worries, yet it’s never labelled as “mental health.” These stories remind us that challenges with how we feel have always been part of the human experience.

How to Talk About Mental Health With Others

The good news is that each of us can help to shift the culture around mental health.

Here are two simple steps:

1. Ask and listen – A simple “How are you?” can make a big difference. But it’s important to be ready to really listen to the answer, whether it’s light or heavy.

   
   

2. Lead by example – Just as important as asking others how they are is being open about how you are. Saying, “I’m feeling a bit anxious today” or “I’ve been feeling low this week” not only shares your truth, but it also gives others permission to do the same.

   
   

Conversations about mental health don’t have to be dramatic or formal, they can be part of everyday life, just like talking about a cold, a headache, or a bad night’s sleep.

Normalising Everyday Mental Health Conversations

Mental health is health. It’s part of who we are, and it exists on a spectrum, just like physical health. By asking questions, sharing honestly, and challenging stereotypes, we can break down stigma and create space for real, supportive conversations.

So maybe start today: ask someone how they’re feeling, and share something about how you are too.

Over the next few blog posts we are going to look at this further: helping others understand your mental health, stopping the stigma and how to have a mental health conversation with someone else.