Changing Mental Health Conversations Can Reduce Stigma

Challenging Deep-Rooted Misconceptions

Altering how we discuss mental health can significantly reduce associated stigma. At Florida International University, a brief activity transformed student perceptions. Professor Meghan Owenz began with a powerful premise. Approximately eighty percent of the general population experiences at least one psychiatric disorder in their lifetime. She recognizes that social stigma reinforces the illusion that mental issues only affect „others.”This misconception discourages people from seeking professional help. During the lesson, Owenz actively challenged these widespread misconceptions. By the end, students were less likely to view those with mental health conditions as different from society. They also became more confident that such conditions are treatable. These findings were published in the journal „Teaching of Psychology.”„We are not talking about them, or other people,”Owenz stated. „We are talking about us, because this is everyone's problem.”The activity involved seventy-nine students in a research-based session. It explored their beliefs regarding mental health.

Students answered questions highlighting common daily traits and behaviors. Examples included having hazel eyes or failing New Year's resolutions. They moved around the room based on their answers. This allowed them to see how many peers shared similar experiences. Owenz used these responses to demonstrate that certain psychiatric disorders are surprisingly frequent. She compared them to everyday experiences discussed in class. She emphasized that common difficulties like sleep, mood, anxiety, or attention are integral to anyone's mental health. „It is normal human behavior to struggle with sleep, mood, anxiety, attention, or diet,”Owenz explained.

Redefining What Is Considered Normal

By the end of the activity, students no longer viewed mental illnesses as dangerous or distinct from normalpeople. They were more willing to see these conditions as treatable rather than lifelong diagnoses. This new perspective led students to question their course name, Abnormal Psychology. They concluded the title no longer reflected their current understanding of mental health. Something affecting fifty to eighty percent of the population over a lifetime is not abnormal. It is an inaccurate term, Owenz said. Students proposed new titles for the course. Suggestions included Divergent Psychology, Mental Health Psychology, Normal Psychology,and Non-Abnormal Psychology. Owenz encourages people to approach mental health difficulties like physical health care. You do not have to cope in silence or alone,she advised. Talk to someone, a mental health specialist, and seek support from friends and family.