Bringing mental health conversations to dinner tables

We all talk about mental health but how invested are we in conversations that drive change? Do we get to the root and talk about mental health enough? Often, we see words being misused, such as depression and OCD, trivializing them and the seriousness is lost.
However, speaking about mental health openly could be a good thing that happened during the pandemic. Now, people have normalized asking for help by breaking down the stigma around mental health. But is this enough? There’s always more we can do.

Let’s not normalize using mental illness terminology so lightly, and let’s normalize bringing real talk around mental health in daily conversations. That is the only way we can break down myths, increase our knowledge and steer life in a healthy direction.

How do we bring mental health in daily conversations?

Openly talk about your mental health

At home, at work, wherever you can. Be a good listener and practice empathy. Check in with employees if you’re an employer, check in with fellow colleagues, peers at college/school, family members at home. Create a safe space by taking the first step. A safe space will let people around you feel comfortable to have real talks. Mental health needn’t be a hushed topic for behind closed therapist office sessions only.

Educate yourself and others

We’re all learning. Mental health is an umbrella topic for several issues. It has so many facets to it, we cannot know them all. That is why it is important to keep tabs about what is happening. If you or someone you know is struggling, educate yourself on the issue so you can have better relationships. Talk to experts, doctors, consume content from credible sources and try and understand the right approach.

Be conscious about the language

Like we mentioned earlier, language and tonality are important. Words such as OCD, depression, anxiety cannot be thrown around as adjectives. We must educate ourselves on the right terminology and use them in all the right places. The way we talk about mental health to ourselves, and others matter too. Choose to be kind and considerate.

Connect with people

We are social beings and only by interacting do we understand ours and others’ needs better. Find ways to connect and bond with people. The right connections can help us collaborate, start meaningful conversations and normalize speaking about mental health.

Use your skills

We are all born with gifts, and we hone our skills along the way. Our skills whether content creation, public speaking, professions in the healthcare industry, so on and so forth- all have room for mental health related conversations. Our voice has more power than we give it credit for!

This mental health day let’s work towards making mental health a topic for drawing room and dinner table conversations.

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