Mental Health Awareness & Stigma Reduction 2026: 21 Powerful Truths to Break Harmful Myths

Executive Summary: Why Mental Health Awareness Matters Now

Mental health awareness and stigma reduction represent two of the most urgent public health priorities globally. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 8 people worldwide live with a mental health condition, making mental illness among the largest contributors to years lived with disability. Yet more than half of people with mental illness don’t receive help, largely because of stigma, prejudice, and discrimination.

Mental health awareness is the understanding that mental health conditions are real medical conditions requiring compassionate, evidence-based care. Stigma reduction is the active process of dismantling harmful stereotypes, myths, and discrimination that prevent people from seeking help and receiving dignified treatment.

This guide provides 21 science-backed strategies to support mental health recovery and end stigma. You will learn how to recognize symptoms of depression and anxiety, support loved ones effectively, access free global resources, and challenge harmful myths with research-backed facts. Every recommendation is grounded in peer-reviewed research from institutions including the World Health Organization, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Health Service.

The purpose of this guide is not to replace professional medical advice but to empower you with accurate information, practical tools, and compassionate frameworks for understanding and supporting mental health. Whether you’re seeking help for yourself, supporting a loved one, or working to reduce stigma in your community, this guide offers actionable strategies rooted in trauma-informed care and cultural awareness.

This guide is structured to address the most common questions people search for when seeking mental health information: What are the signs of depression? How do I deal with anxiety? How can I help someone who’s struggling? What resources are available? Each section provides clear, actionable answers grounded in medical evidence and delivered with empathy.

Understanding Mental Health & The Reality of Stigma

What Is Mental Health?

Mental health encompasses our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. Mental health is not simply the absence of mental illness but a state of well-being in which individuals realize their abilities, cope with normal stresses, work productively, and contribute to their communities, according to the World Health Organization.

Mental health exists on a continuum. Everyone has mental health, and it fluctuates throughout life based on biological factors, life experiences, and social circumstances. Mental health conditions are disruptions to this well-being that cause distress and impair functioning.

Types of Mental Health Conditions

Mental health conditions encompass a wide range of diagnoses affecting millions globally. The National Institutes of Health categorizes these conditions into several major groups:

• Mood disorders including depression and bipolar disorder affect how people feel emotionally over extended periods
• Anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and social anxiety involve excessive fear or worry
• Psychotic disorders including schizophrenia involve distorted thinking and awareness
• Trauma-related disorders including post-traumatic stress disorder develop after exposure to traumatic events
• Eating disorders including anorexia and bulimia involve severe disturbances in eating behaviors
• Personality disorders involve enduring patterns of behavior and inner experience that differ markedly from cultural expectations

Each condition has specific diagnostic criteria, evidence-based treatments, and recovery pathways. What they share is that all are legitimate medical conditions deserving compassionate, professional care.

Understanding Stigma: Three Harmful Types

Stigma surrounding mental health takes three distinct but interconnected forms, each creating barriers to care and recovery.

Public Stigma

Public stigma refers to negative attitudes held by the general public toward people with mental health conditions. This includes stereotypes (believing people with mental illness are dangerous or unpredictable), prejudice (emotional reactions like fear or anger), and discrimination (behavioral responses like denying employment or housing). Research from the American Psychiatric Association shows public stigma remains widespread despite increased awareness campaigns.

Self-Stigma

Self-stigma occurs when individuals internalize public stigma, leading to shame, reduced self-esteem, and reluctance to seek help. The National Alliance on Mental Illness notes that self-stigma often causes more harm than the condition itself, creating a secondary burden that compounds suffering and delays treatment.

Structural Stigma

Structural stigma involves institutional policies and practices that restrict opportunities for people with mental health conditions. This includes inadequate insurance coverage for mental health services, workplace discrimination, and criminal justice policies that punish rather than treat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies structural stigma as the most difficult to address because it’s embedded in laws, policies, and organizational practices.

How Media Reinforces Harmful Stereotypes

Research analyzing mental health portrayals in media consistently finds harmful patterns. A study published in the Journal of Health Communication found that news coverage disproportionately links mental illness to violence, despite evidence showing people with mental health conditions are far more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violence.

Entertainment media perpetuates stereotypes of mental illness as dangerous, unpredictable, or comedic. These portrayals increase public stigma and discourage help-seeking. The National Health Service emphasizes that media literacy and responsible reporting are essential components of stigma reduction.

Correcting the Violence Myth

One of the most harmful myths is that mental illness causes violence. Research definitively contradicts this stereotype. According to the National Institutes of Health, people with serious mental illness contribute to only 3-5% of violent acts in the United States. People with mental health conditions are actually 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime than the general population.

The vast majority of people with mental health conditions are not violent. When violence does occur, it’s typically associated with substance use, history of violence, or environmental factors—not mental illness itself. This myth must be actively corrected because it increases fear, discrimination, and reluctance to disclose mental health struggles.

The Treatment Gap Crisis

The World Health Organization reports a massive global treatment gap for mental health conditions. In low- and middle-income countries, more than 75% of people with mental health conditions receive no treatment at all. Even in high-income countries, treatment gaps exceed 50%.

This gap exists because of stigma, discrimination, inadequate funding for mental health services, shortage of trained providers, and structural barriers to access. Closing this gap requires both stigma reduction and systemic investment in accessible, quality mental health care.

Recognizing the Signs: Depression & Anxiety Symptoms

Recognizing symptoms early enables timely intervention and better outcomes. However, it’s essential to understand that experiencing some of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have a mental health condition. Only qualified healthcare professionals can diagnose mental health conditions. This information is for awareness and educational purposes.

Signs of Depression

Depression is more than temporary sadness. According to the National Institutes of Health, major depressive disorder involves persistent symptoms lasting at least two weeks that interfere with daily functioning. The condition affects how people feel, think, and handle daily activities.

Signs of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry. The National Health Service defines anxiety disorders as excessive fear or worry that persists, causes distress, and interferes with daily life. Several types exist, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.

Important Disclaimers About Self-Diagnosis

Experiencing some symptoms listed above does not automatically mean you have depression or an anxiety disorder. Many symptoms overlap with other medical conditions, stress responses, or temporary life challenges. Only qualified healthcare providers can conduct comprehensive evaluations and provide accurate diagnoses.

If you recognize several symptoms that persist for weeks, cause significant distress, or interfere with work, school, or relationships, consult a healthcare provider. Early professional evaluation leads to better outcomes. There is no shame in seeking help—it’s a sign of strength and self-awareness.

How to Deal with Anxiety & Depression: Evidence-Based Approaches

Managing anxiety and depression requires comprehensive approaches combining professional treatment, lifestyle modifications, and self-care strategies. The National Institutes of Health emphasizes that treatment should be individualized, as what works varies by person, condition severity, and circumstances.

Step 1: Validate Your Experience

The first step in dealing with anxiety or depression is acknowledging that your experience is real and valid. These are not signs of weakness, character flaws, or personal failures. They are medical conditions with biological, psychological, and social components. The National Alliance on Mental Illness stresses that self-compassion is foundational to recovery.

Validating your experience means accepting that you deserve care and support. It means rejecting stigmatizing messages that suggest you should “just get over it” or “think positive.” Healing begins when you treat yourself with the same compassion you’d offer a loved one facing health challenges.

Step 2: Immediate Coping Strategies

While professional treatment is essential for moderate to severe symptoms, several evidence-based coping strategies can provide immediate relief and complement professional care.

Step 3: Lifestyle Stabilization

While lifestyle changes alone cannot cure clinical depression or anxiety disorders, research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows they significantly support recovery when combined with professional treatment.

Sleep Hygiene

Sleep disturbances both result from and worsen depression and anxiety. The National Health Service recommends consistent sleep schedules, limiting screen time before bed, creating dark and cool sleeping environments, and avoiding caffeine after 2 PM. Aim for 7-9 hours nightly.

Physical Activity

Exercise produces neurochemical changes that improve mood. Meta-analyses show that regular physical activity reduces depression and anxiety symptoms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 150 minutes of moderate activity weekly. Start small—even 10-minute walks provide benefits.

Nutrition

Emerging research links nutrition to mental health. The National Institutes of Health notes that Mediterranean-style diets rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and omega-3 fatty acids correlate with lower depression rates. Limit processed foods and excess sugar, which can destabilize mood.

Social Connection

Isolation worsens mental health conditions. Even when motivation is low, maintaining some social connection supports recovery. The World Health Organization identifies social support as a protective factor against mental health decline. Start small—a text message or brief phone call counts.

Step 4: Professional Treatment Options

Professional treatment is essential for moderate to severe depression and anxiety. Several evidence-based options exist, and many people benefit from combinations.

Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)

Multiple therapy types have strong research support. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and change unhelpful thought patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches emotion regulation skills. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) focuses on relationship patterns. The National Institutes of Health considers psychotherapy first-line treatment for many conditions.

Therapy typically involves weekly or biweekly sessions with a licensed mental health professional. Benefits often appear within 8-12 weeks, though duration varies. Finding the right therapist matters—it’s appropriate to try different providers until you find a good fit.

Medication

Psychiatric medications can be highly effective, particularly for moderate to severe conditions. Antidepressants including SSRIs and SNRIs help regulate neurotransmitters. Anti-anxiety medications provide symptom relief. The National Health Service notes that medication works best when combined with therapy.

Concerns about medication are common and valid. Discuss benefits, risks, and alternatives with healthcare providers. Medications affect people differently—finding the right medication and dose often requires patience. Never stop psychiatric medications abruptly; work with your provider to taper safely if needed.

Other Evidence-Based Treatments

Additional options include mindfulness-based therapies, group therapy, and for severe depression resistant to other treatments, electroconvulsive therapy or transcranial magnetic stimulation. Discuss all options with qualified providers.

Step 5: When to Seek Immediate Help

Seek immediate professional help if you experience thoughts of suicide or self-harm, inability to care for yourself, psychotic symptoms including hallucinations or delusions, severe anxiety that prevents basic functioning, or substance use that’s becoming uncontrollable.

Emergency resources include hospital emergency departments, mobile crisis teams, and crisis hotlines. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (US) provides 24/7 support. There is no shame in accessing emergency care—it can be lifesaving.

How to Stop a Panic Attack: Grounding Techniques That Work

Panic attacks involve sudden, intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that peak within minutes. The National Institutes of Health describes them as overwhelming experiences that can feel like heart attacks. Learning grounding techniques empowers you to manage panic attacks when they occur.

Understanding Panic Attacks

Panic attacks involve sudden surges of intense fear or discomfort reaching a peak within minutes. Common symptoms include rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, dizziness, and fear of dying or losing control. While terrifying, panic attacks are not medically dangerous and will pass.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that panic attacks can occur unexpectedly or be triggered by specific situations. Recurrent panic attacks may indicate panic disorder, which requires professional treatment. However, isolated panic attacks affect many people and can be managed with techniques described below.

The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique

This evidence-based technique grounds you in the present moment by engaging your five senses. During a panic attack, your brain perceives danger even when none exists. Grounding interrupts this response by focusing on immediate sensory reality.

This technique works because it’s impossible to focus simultaneously on both panic and detailed sensory information. By the time you complete the exercise, panic intensity typically decreases significantly.

Box Breathing for Panic Relief

Box breathing, also called square breathing, is a controlled breathing technique used by emergency responders and military personnel to manage stress. Research shows it activates the parasympathetic nervous system, counteracting panic’s physiological response.

Box breathing works by slowing breathing rate and increasing carbon dioxide levels, which counteracts hyperventilation common during panic attacks. The National Health Service recommends this technique as a first-line self-help strategy.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation

This technique involves systematically tensing and relaxing muscle groups. It reduces physical tension that accompanies panic and provides a focus point that distracts from panic thoughts.

Start with your feet. Tense the muscles as tightly as comfortable for 5 seconds, then release completely for 10 seconds. Notice the difference between tension and relaxation. Move upward through calves, thighs, abdomen, chest, hands, arms, shoulders, neck, and face. The entire process takes 10-15 minutes.

Panic Attack Affirmations

During panic attacks, remind yourself of these facts: “This is temporary and will pass,” “I am not in actual danger,” “These feelings are uncomfortable but not harmful,” “I have survived every panic attack I’ve experienced,” “I can use my coping techniques.” The National Institutes of Health notes that cognitive reminders help reduce fear of panic itself.

Preventing Future Panic Attacks

If panic attacks recur, professional help is important. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has exceptional success rates for panic disorder. A therapist can identify triggers, teach additional coping strategies, and address underlying anxiety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes that panic disorder is highly treatable with appropriate intervention.

How to Help Someone with Depression: Compassionate Support Strategies

Supporting someone with depression requires understanding, patience, and specific communication skills. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, social support significantly improves outcomes, but well-meaning efforts can sometimes cause harm if not approached thoughtfully.

Understanding Your Role

As a support person, your role is to provide compassionate presence, encourage professional help, and maintain boundaries—not to diagnose, treat, or “fix” the person. The National Health Service emphasizes that friends and family complement but cannot replace professional mental health care.

Depression is not caused by character weakness or lack of willpower. It’s a complex medical condition involving brain chemistry, genetics, and environmental factors. Your loved one cannot simply “snap out of it.” Understanding this helps you avoid harmful suggestions and maintain compassion.

How to Start the Conversation

Initiating conversations about mental health feels awkward for many people. The National Institutes of Health recommends choosing a private, comfortable setting when both of you have time without rushing.

After opening the conversation, practice active listening. This means giving full attention, making eye contact, not interrupting, and avoiding judgment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies active listening as among the most powerful support tools available to nonprofessionals.

What NOT to Say

Well-intentioned statements often minimize suffering or imply the person is to blame. The following phrases, while common, are harmful and should be avoided:

What TO Say: Validating Responses

Instead, use validating responses that acknowledge pain without trying to fix or minimize it:

• “I’m here for you, and I’m listening.”
• “That sounds incredibly difficult. I’m sorry you’re going through this.”
• “You’re not alone. I’m here, and we can figure this out together.”
• “Depression is a real medical condition. This isn’t your fault.”
• “I may not fully understand what you’re experiencing, but I care about you and want to help.”
• “Thank you for trusting me with this. What do you need from me right now?”

Practical Ways to Help

Beyond conversation, offer concrete support. The National Alliance on Mental Illness recommends specific, actionable offers rather than vague “let me know if you need anything.”

Supporting Without Enabling

There’s a difference between supportive accommodation and enabling behaviors that prevent recovery. The National Health Service distinguishes healthy support (helping someone attend therapy, being patient during recovery) from enabling (doing everything for them, making excuses for avoided responsibilities, accepting harmful behaviors).

Set clear boundaries about what you can and cannot do. It’s okay to say “I want to help you, but I can’t call your workplace to report you sick repeatedly. Can we talk about discussing this with your manager or therapist?” Boundaries protect your well-being and encourage professional treatment.

Taking Care of Yourself

Caregiver burnout is real. Supporting someone with depression affects your own mental health. The National Institutes of Health recommends that support persons maintain their own self-care, set boundaries, seek support from others, and consider therapy for themselves.

You cannot save someone from depression through force of will. You can provide compassionate support while they do the hard work of recovery with professional help. Accept that limitation—it protects both you and your loved one.

Mental Health Stigma Across Cultures: Understanding Global Perspectives

Mental health stigma manifests differently across cultures, shaped by historical, religious, and social contexts. Understanding cultural variations helps provide culturally sensitive support and challenges Western-centric assumptions about mental health. The World Health Organization emphasizes that effective stigma reduction requires cultural awareness.

Cultural Context Matters

Culture shapes how people understand distress, what symptoms they report, whom they consult for help, and what treatments they consider acceptable. Research in Cultural Psychiatry shows that Western diagnostic categories don’t map perfectly onto all cultural experiences of psychological distress.

The following descriptions present general patterns within cultures but are not universal. Individual experiences vary based on geographic region, generation, education, urbanization, and personal beliefs. Avoid stereotyping—these frameworks increase understanding, not fixed assumptions.

Asian Cultural Contexts

In many Asian cultures, mental illness carries profound shame affecting entire families, not just individuals. The concept of “face”—social reputation and family honor—means mental health struggles are often hidden to avoid bringing shame to the family. Studies published in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry show that family stigma significantly delays help-seeking in Asian communities.

Somatization—expressing emotional distress as physical symptoms—is common in Asian cultures. A person experiencing depression might report headaches, digestive problems, or fatigue rather than sadness, which is culturally more acceptable to disclose. Healthcare providers must recognize these cultural variations in symptom presentation.

Collectivist values prioritize family and community over individual needs. Seeking mental health treatment may be seen as selfish or as betraying family by suggesting problems exist. However, this is changing among younger, urban populations who increasingly accept mental health care.

African Cultural Perspectives

In many African contexts, mental illness is understood through spiritual and community frameworks rather than purely biomedical models. Traditional beliefs often attribute psychological distress to ancestral displeasure, witchcraft, or spiritual imbalance. Research from the African Journal of Psychiatry shows that many people first consult traditional healers before considering Western mental health services.

Community cohesion is central to many African cultures. Mental health struggles may be addressed through family and community support systems before individuals seek professional care. This has strengths—strong social support protects mental health—but can also delay professional treatment when needed.

Colonialism’s legacy affects mental health care access and perception. Western psychiatric models were historically imposed without cultural adaptation, creating distrust. Increasingly, integrated approaches combining traditional healing and evidence-based care show promise.

Western Cultural Context

Western cultures, particularly in North America and parts of Europe, increasingly accept mental health care but maintain harmful stigmas. Despite awareness campaigns, discrimination persists in employment, housing, and social relationships.

Western cultures often emphasize productivity, independence, and emotional control. Mental health conditions that impair work performance or require ongoing support contradict these values, creating shame. The National Institutes of Health notes that workplace stigma remains a major barrier to disclosure and accommodation.

Rugged individualism—the belief that people succeed solely through personal effort—leads to viewing mental illness as personal failure. This ignores systemic factors, genetics, and brain chemistry, placing unfair blame on individuals for conditions beyond their control.

Rural vs. Urban Differences

Within all cultures, rural communities typically have stronger stigma and fewer mental health resources than urban areas. Rural areas worldwide face mental health provider shortages, requiring residents to travel long distances for care. The World Health Organization identifies rural mental health access as a global challenge.

Rural communities’ close-knit nature increases privacy concerns—people fear that seeking help will become known throughout the community. Smaller populations mean fewer specialized providers and limited anonymity. Telehealth increasingly addresses these barriers but requires internet access and digital literacy.

Religious and Spiritual Perspectives

Religious communities vary widely in mental health acceptance. Some faith communities provide tremendous support and explicitly integrate mental health care with spiritual practice. Others view mental illness as spiritual failing or lack of faith, creating barriers to treatment.

Research published in the Journal of Religion and Health shows that religious involvement can protect mental health through social support and meaning-making, but religious stigma increases suffering when communities blame individuals for their conditions or discourage professional treatment.

Building Culturally Sensitive Support

When supporting someone from a different cultural background, approach with humility and curiosity. Ask “How does your family/community view mental health?” and “What feels most important to you in getting support?” Listen more than you speak. Don’t assume Western approaches are universal or superior.

Effective support respects cultural values while encouraging professional help. For example, in collectivist cultures, frame therapy as benefiting the family, not just the individual. In communities valuing traditional healing, suggest integrated approaches combining traditional and Western care if the person is open to it.

Myths vs. Facts: Correcting Harmful Mental Health Stereotypes

Misinformation about mental health perpetuates stigma and prevents people from seeking help. The following section systematically corrects common myths with research-backed facts from authoritative sources including the National Institutes of Health, World Health Organization, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Structural Stigma Reduction: Changing Systems, Not Just Minds

Individual attitude change, while important, is insufficient to end mental health stigma. Structural stigma—discrimination embedded in institutions, policies, and systems—requires systematic reform. The World Health Organization identifies structural change as essential to achieving mental health equity globally.

Mental Health in Schools: Education-Based Interventions

Schools represent critical intervention points. Early education about mental health normalizes these conversations and teaches help-seeking behaviors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends integrating mental health literacy into standard curricula beginning in elementary school.

Evidence-Based School Strategies:

• Mental health education: Teach students about mental health conditions, reduce stigma, and provide information about how to seek help. Programs like Mental Health First Aid for teenagers show promising results.
• School-based mental health services: Embed counselors, psychologists, and social workers in schools to reduce access barriers. Research shows school-based services significantly increase treatment uptake.
• Anti-bullying programs: Address bullying including cyberbullying, which significantly increases mental health risk. Evidence-based programs reduce both bullying and associated mental health problems.
• Teacher training: Train all school staff to recognize mental health warning signs, respond appropriately, and connect students with resources. Teachers are often first to notice changes in student behavior.
• Accommodations without stigma: Provide academic accommodations for mental health conditions (extended deadlines, reduced course loads) comparable to physical health accommodations. Normalize accommodations as support, not special treatment.

Workplace Mental Health: Employment Policy Reform

Workplace discrimination remains a major barrier to disclosure and accommodation. The National Institutes of Health reports that many employees hide mental health conditions fearing termination, denial of promotion, or social isolation.

Evidence-Based Workplace Strategies:

• Mental health parity in benefits: Ensure insurance covers mental health care equally to physical health care. Monitor for parity violations including higher copays or stricter utilization management for mental health services.
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): Provide confidential counseling, crisis intervention, and referral services. Promote EAPs actively so employees know they exist and feel safe using them.
• Mental health days: Allow employees to use sick time for mental health without requiring specific diagnoses. Normalizing mental health days reduces stigma and prevents burnout.
• Reasonable accommodations: Provide workplace modifications under disability laws including flexible scheduling, remote work, quiet workspaces, or modified duties during treatment.
• Leadership training: Train managers to have supportive conversations about mental health, recognize warning signs, and connect employees with resources without overstepping professional boundaries.
• Anti-discrimination policies: Explicitly prohibit discrimination based on mental health conditions. Enforce policies consistently and ensure reporting mechanisms protect whistleblowers.

Media Responsibility: Changing Narratives

Media representation powerfully shapes public attitudes. Research consistently shows that negative or sensationalized portrayals increase stigma while responsible, accurate representation reduces it. The National Health Service emphasizes media’s role in either perpetuating or reducing mental health stigma.

Responsible Media Guidelines:

• Avoid linking mental illness to violence: Unless mental health is directly relevant to a news story, don’t mention it. When relevant, emphasize that mental illness rarely causes violence and people with mental health conditions are more often victims.
• Use person-first language: Say “person with schizophrenia” not “schizophrenic.” Language emphasizing personhood before diagnosis reduces dehumanization.
• Include recovery stories: Balance crisis coverage with stories of recovery, successful treatment, and people living full lives with mental health conditions.
• Provide resources: Include crisis hotline numbers and mental health resources in any content discussing suicide or mental health crises.
• Consult experts: Include perspectives from mental health professionals and people with lived experience. Avoid relying solely on law enforcement or bystanders when covering mental health stories.
• Avoid sensationalism: Don’t use dramatic language or imagery that portrays mental illness as scary, bizarre, or entertaining. Treat mental health stories with the same gravity as other health stories.

Policy Reform: Legal and Systemic Change

Laws and policies create the framework within which stigma either persists or diminishes. The World Health Organization calls for policy reform as fundamental to mental health system transformation.

Essential Policy Interventions:

• Mental health parity laws: Enforce existing parity legislation requiring insurance cover mental health care equally to physical health care. Monitor compliance and penalize violations.
• Criminalization reform: Divert people experiencing mental health crises from criminal justice to mental health treatment. Expand crisis intervention teams and mental health courts.
• Housing protections: Prohibit housing discrimination based on mental health conditions. Expand supported housing programs that provide stable housing with optional mental health services.
• Employment protections: Strengthen disability discrimination laws to include mental health conditions explicitly. Provide clearer guidance on reasonable accommodations.
• Involuntary commitment reform: Balance safety with civil liberties. Require due process protections and limit involuntary commitment to situations of imminent danger, ensuring less restrictive alternatives are attempted first.
• Research funding: Increase public funding for mental health research to the same level as other major health conditions. Current funding significantly lags despite comparable disease burden.

Language Change: Words Matter

Language shapes perception. The National Institutes of Health emphasizes that person-first language and avoiding stigmatizing terms reduces discrimination and supports dignity.

Language Best Practices:

Language recommendations evolve as communities affected by mental illness express preferences. Listen to people with lived experience about how they wish to be described. Individual preferences vary—respect them when known.