I get asked this question quite a bit, “How do I become a mental health advocate.” (Or mental illness advocate, or bipolar advocate, or what have you.)
Mostly I think people fall into mental health advocacy. I did. In fact, I never really considered myself a mental health (mental illness) advocate*, I always just considered myself a writer, but people started calling me a mental health advocate, so, I guess I became one.
What is Mental Health Advocacy?
I think advocacy comes down to being a loudmouth for what you think is right. That’s about it. So to be a mental health advocate you just have to have some strong opinions on mental health and a good set of lungs.
How Do I Become a Mental Health Advocate?
Well, that’s up to you; any form of advocacy is beneficial as long as it works for you, but here are some ideas.
1. Advocate for your own mental health.
I put this as number one as it’s the most critical and everyone should be their own mental health advocate. You become your own mental health advocate when you educate yourself about your illness, treatments and surrounding issues and begin to direct your own treatment with the help of your doctor. (Become an e-patient.)
2. Advocate for the mental health of a loved one.
If you have one or more people in your life with a mental illness, become empowered and advocate for their mental health too. Become an empowered advocate by learning all about their mental illness, treatments, desires and support them in their decisions with their healthcare provider.
3. Join an advocacy group.
If you want to be a mental health advocate then get together with other mental health advocates. There are many groups online and in person that advocate for those with mental illness. Do some research and find a group that suits you. Of course, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the biggest one and the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is probably the biggest one for support.
4. Express your mental health advocacy.
You can do this in many ways. Any group you join can lead the way, but start petitions, write to political leaders, start a blog, become active in tweetchats and so forth. You can express your views any way you choose.
What to Remember When Becoming a Mental Health Advocate
In short, any way you choose to support those with mental illness – beginning with yourself and moving outward – can help. But keep these things in mind:
- Don’t wear yourself out – you’re no help to anyone else if you’re not well yourself
- Know what you’re doing – know how to talk about mental illness and issues surrounding mental illness (like suicide)
- Remember your experience is not everyone’s – your experience is only one in a myriad
- You’re not a doctor, don’t try to be one – don’t recommend or comment on specific treatments for people unless you’re qualified to do so (and you’ll note those qualified to do so won’t do so online – it’s irresponsible)
- Don’t diagnose others – this isn’t possible with any degree of accuracy, always recommend seeing a professional
- Expect (often nasty) critics – inevitably people will disagree with your views and your mental health advocacy. Try not to engage with these people, ignore personal attacks, and just continue your work professionally.
In short, becoming a mental health advocate is as easy or as hard as you want it to be, but every little bit helps so don’t underestimate your contribution. Remember, touching one person is the goal. Don’t expect to change the whole world; just expect to be the change you want to see in the world.
*I said “mental illness” in brackets because there is some debate on whether one should be called a mental health or mental illness advocate. Allow me to use the former but understand that it also implies the latter.
Hi Natasha, I am a writer who has been through mental illness. As far as I’m concerned the main problem people with mental illnesses have is the mental health systems of the world, under which they have fewer rights than criminal offenders. I have had the mental health system be violent towards me, steal off me, load my health insurance with extra charges I did not incur and, finally, stalk me in the community. I have noticed that they also ‘informally’ spy on us in the community. Admittedly, I have been a recalcitrant patient, but there is no way any department of health should have the right to do all that to a patient and get away with it scot-free. What sort of darned healthcare is that? It is nothing more than state-sponsored persecution!
My son was diagnosed six years ago with bipolar manic depression. perinoia.and scitsaphrinia.I’ve dealt with com care and mha.before this. He was a football player and very popular in his high school.he lost all his friends.we have no family.I knew nothing about mental illnesses. I’ve dealt with a lot of heartless ppl to say the least threw these organizations. there’s been a lot of budget cuts.my son and I have been threw hell and back.there’s not enough ppl that have these jobs that genuinely care for mentally I’ll ppl.they look at there job as just a job.I want to help as maney ppl as I can that are going threw what my son and I have went threw.I’ve edgecated my self on a number of mental illnesses since this has happens to my son.I no a number of mentally ill ppl that doesn’t have any one to care or to speak up for them.please I need ppl to come together to help these ppl who other wise can not or do not have anyone to care for them.or there family’s are so quick to just listen to one docters opinion. thank you somuch.
Hello,
I maybe in the wrong place for this conversation but I am going to post anyway. I hope to get a response. I am diagnosed with PTSD military connected. As much as I would love to talk about ME, this isn’t about me. Instead I would like to talk about prison advocates to mental illness.
My son has been cycling through the “justice system” since he was 12 years old, he is 23 now. He has ben diagnosed bipolar with schizophrenic episodes. At 12 he was diagnosed as ADHD, I might add mis-diagnosed as ADHD, NO HE IS BIPOLAR! Now I am his advocate trying to find someone who can help me navigate through the judicial system. Not more than 4 months ago he got out of jail after being there for one year. He was charged for assulting a police officer; but the problem was the videotape showed a different story. Moreover, the city has a clause that doesn’t allow retribution or accountability for their ( police) actions.
This has been a cycle, giving him responsibilities he can’t handle. He’s not allowed to get a job but he must pay. How does that work? No money, no bus, no taxi and they expect this child, bipolar heading out of prison with out skills or the tools to be able to navigate through his own head. So they set these guys up, and continue the cycle. Is there anyone who can help me help him? Please reply, I have talked to NAMI and even though they were a lot of help I have just begun. I have called the jail because he called me needing help. I talked to the Tower Sgt. for a wellfare check. My son calls me back more agitated, sounding as if pending doom…
I then call the jail back and they dispatch me to the Tower. They didn’t do the welfare check! So I asked to talk to the Tower Sgt,. I spoke with him for quite sometime. My son called a short time later to let me know he had been moved…..VICTORY! Although minimal, I would like to have a few more. ♡♡♡
Jan
Congratulations, Natasha, on your 26 April interview with Chris Brown of the CBC “Early Edition”. You were eloquent and professional, and altogether bloody impressive! Well done: I guess you have proven you’re an advocate!
Paul,
Thanks so much. I’ve had some really good feedback based on it. Thanks for taking the time to pop by and say as much. :)
– Natasha Tracy
I echo what Sarah said and would like to add that sometimes the best way to be a mental health advocate is just by living a life with dignity, purpose and compassion. When people meet us seeing that first, we come out about our mental illness later, it chips away at the stigma. Little by little, one person at a time. stigma will be reduced. It has been my experience that my own disclosure makes it safer for other folks to disclose their own struggles.
I am not a loudspeaker sort of advocate, in my own life. We need those people, but I’m not temperamentally suited for it (i.e. I fall apart if given any criticism). I use the strengths which I have which are patience (something that evaporates when manic) and compassion (also something which takes a backseat during a manic episode). I’ll add ‘persistence’ in there too (persistence doesn’t disappear during a manic episode, but it can be probelmatic…)
Anyway, I don’t hide my bipolar disorder. I don’t care if anyone finds out. I’m discreet though. Not everything in life is relevant to my illness, so I don’t have to talk about it all the time. It’s a poker-face game (I’m good at poker). Always appear confident. I’ve found my confidence to be infectious. If I act calm and confident, with a little humor (not too much bitter sarcasm), the topic moves on.
I’ve found that I’m very good at speaking the language of health professionals, since I used to be one. They are always amazed at my level of insight (why should they be amazed? They would behave the same way if they were in my position). However I don’t actually have insight into my mania when it happens, unless somebody points it out. What they consider to be insight is actually an ability to communicate on their level about my symptoms. I write my own case notes, so that I don’t have to endure another painful personal examination.