The month of May can symbolize many different things within the minds of individuals, such as the beginning of spring and an exciting precursor for summer; however, this month may symbolize something of even greater importance for others—mental health awareness. Throughout the years, our nation has greatly improved upon expanding mental health coverage for all individuals, but despite this advancement, something is still standing in the way of people seeking the help that they need.

Stigma. The amount of shame associated with the admittance of a mental health disorder, or even seeking help through a professional, is out of hand, and we need to put a stop to it. So many times I have come in contact with those that display all of the classic signs of a mental health disorder, whether it be depression, anxiety, alcoholism, etc., and so many of those individuals deny that they need help. Why? Because our society has associated mental health disorders with the labels of “crazy” or “dangerous” and let’s be honest, no one wants to walk through life feeling like that. However, the issue here is that having a mental health disorder does not qualify someone to be either of those labels or any of the others that are thrown around. Actually, I find people that can stop and recognize that they have an issue and need to seek assistance as “smart,” “responsible” and “proactive” because they know that they can either overcome these obstacles or learn to handle them a little bit better.

So how do we put a stop to this stigma you may ask? I believe the answer to this lies within education. Educating everyone, whether you have a mental health disorder or not, is the key to finally putting an end to the labels and to encourage those that live with mental health disorders to receive the help they need. Think about it. How many times do you have an opinion on something without true background knowledge on the subject? Do you have that opinion just because a vast majority of the people around you share a common belief?

I bet when you do a little more research your opinion starts to sway in a different direction. The same is true regarding mental health disorders. So, with that, I challenge you to take a few moments out of your day this month to research more about mental health disorders that you truly do not know much about. Or the next time that you find yourself in a conversation with someone that may be suffering from a mental health disorder, try and stop yourself from throwing any negative labels around in your head, and instead, attempt to really understand where the individual may be coming from.

Mental health disorders are real and more common than you may think. So this month, help take part in National Mental Health Awareness and strive to support those that suffer by letting them know they are not alone, and that the possibility of healing and thriving is tangible. And to those that suffer from these disorders, you are not crazy or dangerous, or any of those other labels people may throw around.

You are not your illness.