Stop Stigma Together: why it’s critical to talk about mental health and substance use disorders

It’s likely that you already know me, but if you don’t, I’m Seth Kahan. I have a dog, I wear glasses, and I have a mom with schizophrenia. 

The first 10 years of my life were good; I had all I needed as a child. Then, there was a clash between those years and what happened after my mother’s schizophrenia bloomed. That's her in the picture just about that time in the early '70s. I felt embarrassed to share with others that my mother had schizophrenia because, in my head, it was something to be embarrassed about. I constantly found myself trying to return to those first 10 years that I grew to value, but I just couldn’t seem to get back to that state of mind. Years went by before I started prioritizing my mental health; however, once I made this a first concern and started engaging in therapy, I realized that I now had the tools necessary to help me have the life I thought I had lost forever. Ever since then, I’ve found a real purpose in stopping the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use disorders. 

Mental health stigma is a linchpin issue. It stops many other things from progressing, therefore impacting all levels of society. Stigma prevents policymakers from creating laws free of discrimination and limits health care workers from providing the best possible care. Stigma stops people from seeking the treatment they need; robs them of their joy in life and well-being; and in a worst-case scenario, results in ultimate harm. Growing up, I felt sharing about my mother’s schizophrenia was something to be ashamed of – you can imagine how that changed my behavior in various situations. That’s when I learned the powerful effect that stigma had on so many different things. Once I truly understood how large a barrier stigma created in the path to helping those with mental health and substance use disorders, I knew I had to be a part of the effort to effectively break it down. But, as you can imagine, it’s not a one-person job. We need to break the stigma together, as it is truly a layered and complex issue.

Our country is highly diverse, more so than ever before, and stigma itself is also varied. That’s why it’s so important to gain multiple perspectives to effectively end the stigma. We have three different dimensions of stigma that need to be addressed. First, the structural level – This is where stigma influences laws and policies. Second, the social level – This is where stigma influences whether or not someone discusses mental health and substance use disorders with others. And third, internal dialogue – This is where stigma influences our own thoughts and can prevent someone from normalizing the topic of mental health and substance use disorder.

I’m proud to be part of the Huntsman Mental Health Institute’s Grand Challenge. In the effort to address barriers to mental health and improve outcomes for Utahns struggling with mental health and substance use disorders, the institute partners with local stakeholders on community and statewide coalitions, councils and other collaborative partnerships such as the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Mental Health America, The Trevor Project, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and many more. I’m also thrilled that, as a community, the Design Summit is being held so that we can build a safe and inclusive community that works together to end the stigma associated with mental health and substance use disorders. Mental health and substance use disorders are universal – meaning that they affect people from all walks of life. However, resources are not currently readily available to everyone. Marginalized populations in our country are suffering more severely from mental health and substance use issues, so it’s critical that resources to stop the stigma are centered in equity. That’s why it’s important that we work together so that these communities can become part of the planning process and strategy development to stop the stigma. 

I am confident that I’m not the only one who has a story to share about mental health or substance use disorder. I’m also sure that, while it can be hard or scary to share your story, it’s very important that we do. Let’s take that first step to stop the stigma, together. For more information on how to participate in the Design Summit or how you can help break the stigma, please go to StopStigmaTogether.org to learn more and stay up to date on the movement. #eliminatestigmanow #stopstigmatogether #grandchallenge