May’s theme was Mental Health - not least because May saw the arrival of Mental Health Awareness Month in the US, and Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK (from 10th - 16th May 2021).

Mental health and mental illness are much more openly talked about across all parts of society. However, it can still be taboo and a heavily loaded subject. After all, there are centuries of stigmatisation to undo in order for us to get to a place where mental health is prioritised and spoken about without judgement. Add on top of that the complexities of mental health when layered on with marginalisation along the lines of gender, race, disability and many other factors, and there is plenty of work yet to be done. That’s why May’s Diversity Dictionary words sought to demystify and address commonly held misconceptions about mental health.

Mental Health

Mental health is a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises their own potential, can cope with stresses of everyday life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to their community. (Source: World Health Organisation)

Mental health can be seen as a continuum ranging from having good mental health to poor mental health, and from having no diagnosis to a diagnosis of severe mental illness. A person will vary in their position along this continuum at different points in their life. (Source: Mental Health First Aid England)

A mental illness is a condition that affects someone’s thinking, emotions and behaviour, and disrupts their ability to carry out daily activities. Anxiety disorders and depression are more commonly known mental illnesses, while schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are less well known. (Source: Mental Health First Aid England)

Systemic oppression and everyday discrimination can negatively impact someone’s mental health. For example, experiencing discrimination, stereotyping, hate crimes, and economic inequality due to racism can lead to anxiety, depression or other issues.

This can be further compounded by systemic failure of medical professionals and healthcare systems to fully understand and provide for the unique mental health needs of differently marginalised groups.

Today, mental health is talked about and valued a lot more than it once was. But the global pandemic has put new and intense pressures on people’s mental health, as well as on services that provide mental health care and support.

It’s important that we as individuals and communities do what we can to prioritise our mental health and manage it proactively. We can do this by raising awareness of good mental health practices, as well as learning how to recognise signs of mental illness in others.

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER

Obsessive-compulsive disorder, commonly known as OCD, is a chronic mental health condition characterised by obsessions which lead to compulsive behaviors. OCD has two main parts: obsessions and compulsions.

Obsessions are unwelcome thoughts, images, urges or worries that repeatedly appear in someone’s mind. People with OCD may be afraid that somehow the thoughts might be true and, as a result, feel very anxious and stressed.

Compulsions are repetitive activities that someone does to reduce the anxiety and stress caused by the obsession. It could be something like repeatedly checking if a door is locked, repeating a specific phrase in your head or checking how your body feels. (Source: Mind Charity)

Stigma around OCD can make it difficult to talk about and it can prevent people from seeking help. And indeed, there are many popular misconceptions about OCD that are rarely questioned.

Some people think it simply means washing your hands a lot or that someone likes things to be tidy. Others might even make jokes about it, or casually describe themselves as a 'little bit OCD'. This can end up trivialising a very real condition.

@ocdukcharity advises using the phrase ‘a person suffers with OCD’ rather than ‘a person is OCD’. This is because a person can’t be a disorder, but they can suffer with the disorder. For a similar reason the term ‘OCDers’ is also advised against. (Source: OCD-UK)

There has been recent research that shows how racial discrimination and stereotyping can exarcerbate OCD symptoms while simultaneously creating barriers to direct care. For example, when therapists are less willing to take on clients of colour (Source: Psychology Today)

To overcome racial health disparity when it comes to diagnosis and treatment for OCD, it’s important we share more information, challenge stigma and use language respectfully so people can confidently seek the support they need.

DEPRESSION

Depression is a mental illness characterised by a low mood that lasts for a long time and affects your daily life.

A diagnosis of depression might involve being told you have mild, moderate or severe depression. There are also some more specific forms of depression, such as:

seasonal affective disorder (SAD) which occurs at a particular time of year, or during a particular season. Dysthymia is a continuous mild depression that lasts for two years or more. It’s also known as persistent depressive disorder or chronic depression. Prenatal depression, also known as antenatal depression, is a depression that occurs during pregnancy. And postnatal depression (PND) is a depression that occurs in the first year after giving birth. (Source: Mind Charity)

People with depression often face one or more of the following symptoms: low self-esteem, loss of energy; change in appetite; sleeping more or less; anxiety; reduced concentration; indecisiveness; restlessness; feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or hopelessness; and thoughts of self-harm or suicide. It’s important to note that depression can look different for each individual.

The causes of clinical depression are largely unknown however vulnerability to this condition is believed to be a combination of genetic, environmental and psychological factors. (Source: @psiglobalunion)

There’s a growing body of research showing the ways in which the historical legacies of racism and colonialism create depressive conditions. When the lived experiences of marginalised people ranges from conditions of migration, class stratification, cultural genocide, labour exploitation, and social immobility, depression can be seen as a ‘rational response to global conditions’. (Source: Ann Cvetkovich)

Everyone can feel sad, blue or hopeless when bad things happen. The world news may be a source of great sadness for many at the moment. However, if you’re able to bounce back without treatment it probably isn’t depression.

We ask that you raise your awareness to the realities of depression and avoid casually using phrases like “I’m so depressed” when you mean disappointed or sad. More conscientious use of language will prevent trivialising or stigmatising real conditions and lead to people seeking the support they need.

ANXIETY DISORDER

Anxiety is what we feel when we are worried, tense or afraid. It’s a natural human response and is useful in helping us avoid dangerous situations and for motivating us to solve everyday problems. (Source: Mind Charity)

But when anxiety becomes severe, long-lasting and affects a person’s everyday life, including their relationships and work, that’s when it might be diagnosed as an anxiety disorder.

‘Anxiety disorder’ is an umbrella term that covers a number of different disorders, including Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), health anxiety, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and perinatal anxiety or perinatal OCD.

In other words, there are many different ways anxiety disorders can be diagnosed. And there are many ways in which the symptoms of anxiety can manifest, including physical, emotional, and behavioural.

Panic attacks tend to be associated with anxiety. A panic attack is a distinct episode of high anxiety, with fear or discomfort, which develops suddenly and usually has its peak within 10 minutes. (Source: Mental Health First Aid England)

While anxiety is mostly caused by perceived threats in the environment, some people are more likely to be affected by anxiety than others. Traumatic past or childhood experiences, current life situations, physical and mental health problems, and drugs and medication can all contribute to anxiety disorders.

People who experience marginalisation may be more prone to anxiety due to the stresses of systemic oppression. Research has shown that a person doesn’t have to directly experience oppression to have anxiety. Just witnessing or hearing about forms of oppression can negatively impact mental health, and with 24/7 access to news and social media those risks are higher than ever.

While anxiety affects everyone differently, there are ways to manage anxiety, from looking after your physical health and breathing exercises, to seeking professional help and medication. Often the first and most impactful step is to talk about it.

Part of our mission at The Other Box is to educate as many people as possible in the language of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). On all our social channels, we share weekly words and their definitions, with a different theme each month.

These terms are a taster and have been taken from our Diversity Dictionary™ module in our Know Your Bias™ course. If you'd like to learn more, check out our courses page and fill in the contact form. 

Is there a theme you’d like to see covered in Diversity Dictionary? Let us know! Our work is co-created by our community to work towards creating a world that is more inclusive and safe for everyone.

Words by Roshni Goyate

Header image by Hybrid on Unsplash