Why are we ashamed to say that we go to a mental health center?

When we visit a dental clinic, we openly discuss our fears. When we go to a physiotherapy center, which helps us relax our muscles, we don't hesitate to talk about it and recommend it to our family and friends. But when we go to a mental health center, many people don't talk about it and hide it.

For many decades, society has labeled people who go to mental health centers as "crazy," creating a negative image of them. Furthermore, we rely on erroneous stereotypes that are unfortunately difficult to overcome and stigmatize people with mental health problems. These stereotypes can influence a person with a mental health problem to the point that they decide not to seek help at a mental health center.

This stigma , when someone views you negatively because of a distinctive characteristic or a personal trait that is considered a disadvantage, has persisted over time, but things are beginning to change.

More and more people are talking about their mental health disorder and going to a center to recover from it.

Stigma can lead to discrimination. This can be overt and direct, for example, if someone makes a negative comment about your mental illness or treatment. Or it can be unintentional or subtle, such as when someone avoids you because they assume you might be unstable, violent, or dangerous due to your mental illness. You might even judge yourself in these terms.

The first step to breaking stigmas is to acknowledge the problems , recognize the emotions we feel and make them legitimate, since at a social level there seems to be a rejection of the recognition of emotions and concerns.

I bet when someone asks you "how are you?" you always answer that you're fine, even if you're not. Well, change that. If you're tired, overwhelmed, bored... say so!

Some of the main reasons why people do not explain that they go to a mental health center to treat a problem are:

• Fear of rejection: no one wants to feel rejected by a group or a specific person. We need to be accepted and belong. Sharing that we're going to a mental health center with friends or family can make us think they're going to leave us out.
• Fear of being judged : we don't like being the subject of gossip, especially if it's to judge us without knowing our circumstances. Evaluating and judging other people's lives can be both easy and cruel. Avoiding being labeled "unbalanced" often means not openly admitting you need help from a mental health professional.
• Showing weakness: This can manifest as a fear of being labeled as incompetent, as lacking the strength to cope with difficult situations or overcome problems. Some people experience this as a failure to manage their lives.

Being aware of the problem and asking for help is the first step in addressing a mental health issue. Don't think it will fix itself because it can get even worse.

Seek help from a mental health professional, just as you seek help in other aspects of your health.

Photo: Ariadna Creus and Ángel García | Banc d'Imatges Infermeres