Mental health is a state of emotional well-being and relative freedom from anxiety and distress. It also includes the ability to enjoy life, manage relationships and cope with the challenges of everyday living.
The world’s population experiences high levels of unmet need for mental health services. In low-income countries, government spending on mental health care is less than 1% of total government health budgets and even in high income countries, the percentage is only 2.8%. Moreover, the stigma surrounding psychological distress promotes avoidance and emotional stoicism among people with mental illnesses, and many individuals do not seek treatment because of barriers such as limited availability, language barriers and cultural expectations.
While the media plays an important role in raising awareness and reducing stigma, content creators are also responsible for ensuring that they use words that do not denigrate mental illness. For example, avoid phrases like suffer from (which creates pity) and battling (bellicose language). Instead, be specific: “He has schizophrenia”; “She is being treated for depression.”
People from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds experience different levels of stigma toward psychological distress. Asian Americans report a strong sense of shame, and they may avoid seeking help due to the cultural expectation to maintain high standards in their work and family lives. In Latin American nations, limited resources and cultural values encourage individuals to ignore their symptoms. Additionally, the priority given to physical health issues in these communities impedes access to mental healthcare.