10/05/2024
So many are hesitant to seek counselling because of the stigma associated with same. Persons, for too long have associated mental health "illnesses" with being "mad". But this is not the case.
Living live can be hard sometimes. Our perception of things can blur lines and lead to stress and anxiety, which are mental in nature. Prolonged neglect of day to day challenges can lead to overwhelming consequences in the long term. Not attending to your mental health now can dramatically affect your physical health later on.
An individual should take preventative measures to better equip themselves with navigating emotional and psychological challenges as they arise, instead of waiting to the point where they can no longer function. Stigma around seeking help causes persons to try to manage on their own.
A counselor can help you utilize the behavioural cognitive tools that, when applied, can bring transformational changes in relationships, situations and your life, thus giving you a springboard to becoming the best version of yourself.
We should have more open and honest dialogue about mental health. In the United States of America, we've seen a shift in this regard. Social media has facilitated these discussions, and more and more persons are focusing on their mental health. It's my hope that within the Caribbean, we'll see that shift too, where we as a people are comfortable seeking mental health services at higher levels.
