Mental Health: Initiating Conversations

Content Team Taglist: @3rafa611 @adventurousSquare6860 @alex000 @Alicein3rdwonderland @aquaHemlock3767 @azuladragon34 @bluecup55 @blueOcean2229 @BreadSheeran @brigjtertomorrow @Btsfan2021 @chrysanthemum97 @Clarisse29 @CoffeeAddict07 @Dan76 @DazzlingDaisy870 @ema7437899 @fallingstar9999 @glisteningKitty2866 @goldenLion1121 @GreatestClassiest @green0765 @Hopezzy @indiansenorita24 @ivoryShip5651 @Izzy274 @Jaydetheyoungan01 @Jenim @jersey123456 @kittywithabow @kpopcat2020 @littleJar3638 @Mangocakeu @melisupporter @MinatoK @niens @Nirvanaaa @oliveAvocado1123 @orangemango10 @OrphicListener1111 @ouiCherie @peixuan @plutofrog @politeRiver4890 @positiveShell2173 @quietPear1997 @RainForest4728 @RideaRainbow @shyLion5262 @Silver1600 @SilverSeastar @SoftSunshine3655 @sweeswee @terra9201 @ThandoM12 @TilXC @turqoiseOrange7980 @usefulSummer3139 @versatileDime850 @victoriousVoice21 @woodenmoon @YellowDaisy56 @Yourwhatyourthoughtsare

@Clarisse29

This is amazing and the stigma about mental health and seeking support definitely needs to be broken. The way I look at it is everyone deserves support for what they want help with e.g. self-harm. No one should feel like they don't deserve it or they feel their wasting that persons time. WE should all be accepting of each other no matter what.

Thankyou @Clarisse29 for bringing this up!

@Clarisse29

I suppose it's pretty easy to seek support here. Most people are aware that everyone has their own life challenges. Just login with member account 😀

But in real life, it may not be so easy. Most everyone is looking for someone to listen to them. It's hard to tell who wakes up and go out ready to be on the receiving end. Before we realise, we're already back in listening side lol 😆

However, to initiate conversation about mental health can be anywhere. Anyone can be an advocate to spread awareness beyond 7 Cups. To break the stigma, is to break the silence. 💜

What do you think?

@Clarisse29

I think even to my close friends, sometimes there's a stigma towards admitting you have mental health issues. The first step I think is to build trust between two people and slowly open up. This is to also not risk yourself being too vulnerable when the circumstances are not suitable yet. I find opening up about mental health on 7cups is a great way. In real life, maybe talking face to face is better than texting when chatting about these topics because you could see and understand the other person's reactions instead of guessing and misunderstanding.

@Clarisse29 Seize the Awkward!

I also find it helps to ask if others are ok with me self-disclosing and if so I share some of my story. That shows they are not alone, and models for them on how to safely open up and share.

Mental health, to me, is an issue that makes me feel vulnerable. To talk about my vulnerabilities puts me in a position of weakness which usually turns into feelings of inadequacy. Conversations rarely occur when there is no safe space to do so. When talking to others about mental health issues I let them talk. When they are done talking I wait. I pause. Give them that safe space. That pause is everything. My ego and advice is not welcome in their recovery or share. Sharing is sacred. It is brave and courageous and the first huge step in positive mental health.

@Clarisse29 I think like we have green, orange and red status on our profiles, we should have similar indicators irl too on a wristband or something.

Green- I am open to talk about anything

Orange- sure, let's talk but be sensitive

Red- you better watch what you talk with me

Idk how much it might help, but we really do need a system like that.

@Clarisse29

Hello, Clarisse! This is such an amazing question. It takes a lot of time and trust in order to really start a productive conversation about mental health and seeking support. I know a lot of people initially feel hesitant, and even scared, to reach out for support due to ongoing stigma and misinterpretations. It is often best to meet with someone you trust in-person and in a quiet space with little distractions. Building up trust does take time, so it is important that you feel comfortable enough to open up with the person of your choice. When you talk with this person, you may start feeling vulnerable because seeking support may go beyond your comfort zone- and that is perfectly valid. That is the reason why you should talk with someone who you trust, so that you feel more confident that they will not judge.

But sometimes, when you want to have your first conversation regarding this topic, you may want to do it in an anonymous fashion so that you feel a bit safer and more genuine (in other words, no one will judge you for who you are as a person, since you are anonymous). This is why sites, like 7 Cups, are so favored, since you don't have to worry too much about revealing your personal identity, and then you will feel more comfortable sharing and getting support. ❤️