I hope that the future of mental health care is a bright one. As of right now, this is not the case.
Volumes of studies have been dedicated to understanding causes and effects and methods of aid for mental illness, but I am not sure how well we have implemented our current understandings.
Outside of the institutions of therapy, there is a culture that precursors treatment. Self-reflection is encouraged, but the results can often leave individuals even more confused.
To illustrate, in my adolescence I acted out in a number of ways, a “troubled teen” if you will. There were a lot of surface level reasons to which I and my loved ones contributed the behavior, but a handful always pressed me to seek therapy.
I understood that my friends and family cannot solve my problems for me, especially with how guarded I can be; but I found myself deeply troubled by the idea that I was put into this sphere of misunderstanding. I am not trying to deconstruct the layers of culture that brought me to this fear. I just mean to say that I couldn’t help but notice the gaping divide between admitting your problems and actually addressing them.
The therapists of the world are needfully well-intentioned, but I believe that there needs to be better supportive culture of encouraging not just reflection, but acceptance. In my experience, it is when people cannot accept themselves that they act out towards or avoid others.
My call to action in this case would be encouraging us all to probe ourselves and our friends in ways that lead to the end of acceptance.
The ways you choose to go about this is entirely discretionary, but a good place to start is trying to maintain a position of no judgement. If a friend comes to you or displays behavior that is atypical for them, do not be so quick to try and judge the situation. Getting to the heart of emotional issues should be handled with care and tact. Probe, but do not lead or load your questions. In fact, I am taking an interviewing class right now, and I have found it to be immensely helpful in how I go about being a good friend and asking the right questions. Try looking up some interview methods, maybe.
Respond to Tabitha at
