The Power of Conversation: Reducing Stigma Around Mental Health Issues
Counseling & Psychological Services

The Power of Conversation: Reducing Stigma Around Mental Health Issues

By Joshua Garvey, LCPC

During Mental Health Awareness Month in May, we reflect on the impact that open, honest conversations can have on breaking down barriers and bridging the gap of understanding mental health for those in our community. In today's world of uncertainty, economic pressure and social upheaval, our friends, family, neighbors and selves may be experiencing heightened levels of anxiety and stress. Although there is a growing compassion for those experiencing mental health issues, stigma remains one of the most persistent obstacles preventing people from seeking help.

Why Conversations Matter Now More Than Ever

The simple act of talking about mental health can create ripples of positive change in our community:

  • Helps us feel less alone: When we openly discuss anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges, we help others recognize they aren't alone in their struggles, which helps normalize these basic human experiences.
  • Educates and empowers: Open and thoughtful dialogue creates room for knowledge exchange, empowering others to learn and share themselves.
  • Encourages help-seeking behavior: People are more likely to seek support when they see others doing the same, focusing on bettering themselves alongside their support system or with professional help.
  • Creates community: Open conversations build networks of understanding where people feel safe sharing their experiences, bridging those who might otherwise self-isolate.

Starting Effective Conversations

Creating meaningful dialogue around mental health doesn't require special training – just genuine care and respectful curiosity:

  • Begin with genuine questions and active listening rather than assumptions. For example:
    • "How have you been feeling lately?"
    • "What's been on your mind recently?"
  • Share your own experiences when appropriate
  • Respect individual boundaries and privacy
  • Build upon hope and recovery, not merely challenges faced

Moving From Conversation to Action

While talking is an essential first step, meaningful change requires concrete action:

  • Reach out to those in your life about their mental wellbeing
  • Practice self-awareness about your own mental health needs; seek professional support as needed
  • Model self-care and self-compassion
  • Challenge stigmatizing language or jokes when you encounter them
  • Share reliable information from trusted sources about mental health

How JCFS Chicago Supports These Conversations

JCFS Chicago offers comprehensive behavioral health and emotional support services designed to extend these important conversations into professional settings where healing can flourish:

  • Comprehensive assessment: Psychological testing and evaluation to better understand challenges and develop personalized support plans.
  • Counseling for all ages: Individual sessions for children, adults, couples and families with trained professionals who create safe spaces for expression and growth.
  • Community education and consultation: Reaching nearly 1,000 young people annually at schools, camps, youth groups and synagogues with age-specific mental health information, while also providing over 60 years of early childhood mental health consultation to Head Start and preschools.

Resources to Continue the Conversation

For those looking to deepen their understanding or find support:

Remember that every conversation about mental health, however small, contributes to a culture where emotional health is valued and reaching out is seen as a strength. This May, I invite you to join in speaking openly, extending empathy and fostering a culture where mental health is essential to our collective wellbeing.

For more information about JCFS Chicago’s services or to schedule an appointment, call 855.275.5237 or visit our website.