When it comes to asking for help on an assignment, people typically go to a teacher, a friend or even tutoring until they feel good enough to turn in the assignment. We have always been told to speak up and advocate for ourselves. It seems so simple to ask for help on a math problem, or have someone check over our essay.
Why does the same principle not apply to our mental health? Although mental health has become an important topic in day-to-day life, people still feel so much judgement when they discuss their mental health.
After speaking with students and faculty at the University of Tennessee at Martin, a more clear understanding of the problem emerged.
Bethaney Greenway, a freshman psychology major at UT Martin, said people do not want to reach out because of fear of judgement. People do not want to be judged, so they do not open up like they need to.
“A big part of people not wanting to reach out is because of judgement, because our world is so messed up today that anything you can do, people will judge you for that” said Greenway.
It can be hard to reach out when you are in constant fear of judgement from others. I know from personal experience that reaching out is terrifying. People feel so lost and worried about how others will see them or if people may look at them differently.
“Coming from someone who has struggled with their mental health, you don’t want people to judge you, so you keep to yourself, and that eats you alive” said Greenway.
I agree; struggling with your mental health can cause isolation and start to take over your daily life. Sometimes it can feel like there is no way out because the thought of telling someone else can feel like climbing a mountain without any tools.
Lillian Ewing, a freshman k-5 education major, feels people might be embarrassed to reach out because it can be hard to take that initial step.
“I feel like people might be embarrassed to reach out, because they don’t want people to know what they are struggling with,” said Ewing.
Struggling with mental health can cloud your mind and make you feel worse about yourself in general. After I took the hardest step of reaching out, it felt like a giant weight was off my shoulders.
The most important step of seeking help is reaching out in the first place. However, it also can be the hardest step in getting help. Since most people struggle with the same feelings of judgement and embarrassment, no one should feel scared to reach out and get help.
Shannon Perry, the director of the Student Conduct and CARE center at the UT Martin, gave her thoughts on why people struggle with asking for help.
“I think that it is difficult to ask for help because it is vulnerability, and it is identifying a part of your person that you feel is lacking,” said Perry. “But we all lack the ability to do certain things, so you might need a little push, guidance or even someone to talk to.”
You have to take care of the inside before you can be great on the outside. For me, I started getting help for my mental health, and I began to be more confident in myself. If we normalize getting help with day-to-day assignments, we should also normalize getting help with our mental health.
No one should put other people’s opinions over their own mental health. When you are struggling and need some help, just know that everyone struggles sometimes. There is nothing wrong with needing a little help or guidance.
