When we talk about mental health stigma, we might think of someone making an openly unkind comment. Sometimes it’s much more subtle than that. It can be a change in tone, an assumption about what someone can do, or a conversation that suddenly feels different after they mention their mental health.
Here's Mark sharing an experience he had at a job interview:
“I was doing well in the interview. The panel were generally friendly and interested; it honestly felt like they were going to employ me there and then. But when they asked about time off work and an employment gap in the dates on my CV, I mentioned I had struggled with anxiety. The whole tone of the interview changed.
“From then on, it felt like they could not wait to get me out of the interview room. I never heard anything back from them.”
We can’t know why Mark wasn’t offered the job. But the change in atmosphere and the panel’s behaviour after he mentioned his anxiety has stayed with him.
Stigma can show up in other ways too. Someone might hear an offhand joke, be treated as less capable at work, or find that people stop asking for their opinion. They might be told to “just get on with it” when they try to explain how they’re feeling. Over time, those experiences can affect how someone sees themselves.
That can make it harder to speak up or ask for help. It can leave people feeling they need to hide part of their lives to be treated fairly.
For Stigma-Free September, we’re asking people to notice those everyday moments. If someone talks to you about their mental health, listen without jumping to conclusions. Think about the language you use, including when the person concerned isn’t in the room.
You can explore our stigma-free resources, including a guide to supporting someone with their mental health and conversation cards to help you know what to say. Local businesses can also sign up for our free Stigma-Free training on the same page.
If something in this blog feels familiar, you can talk to us. Whether you’re looking for support with your own mental health or you’re concerned about someone else, you can explore our services and support, call us on 01325 283169 or email [email protected]. We’d be happy to help.