Quote:
Originally Posted by DrPhil
Well, they aren't normal. That's the whole point of seeking treatment. This is one reason why (in my off-internet interactions) I tell people that we have to understand the various outcomes of normalizing what are considered forms of "deviance." There are a number of reasons why people don't seek help. One of them is that when you discuss something to the point where it is normalized, there is always the possibility that many will say "a large percentage of adults have depression/a mental disorder/suicidal ideation...I'm pretty normal so I'm content with that and won't waste time seeking help."
So when discussing such matters and building a sense of comradere, you don't want to normalize it to the point where the "seek help outside of this message board" option loses its appeal.
That's one of the differences between discussing forms of birth control that you use on here (which I wouldn't do but others choose to) and talking about mental and emotional health.
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I wish this was a matter of who, what, where, when and why to discuss mental health conditions, but the reasons for choosing not to pursue mental health care are due to fearful myths and perceptions, cultural incompetencies, ignorances and funds. That is published in the mental health outreach research literature and policy...
The professional people and programs are there, and online, too... But, people still do not seek their assistance... It seems what works is when people seek that rapport in communities they have affinities and trusts...