My policy professor gave our class the opportunity to present a speech on a social justice issue that’s close to us last semester. I was grateful for the chance to share some of my journey fighting the stigma against mental health with my cohort in the form of the following speech:

Discussing mental health is something that means a lot to me. It’s meant not feeling alone. It’s meant knowing who I can ask for help. It’s meant finding the resources I need and sharing them with others. That’s why I’m passionate about being open about the fact that I live with depression and anxiety. 

Yet there is stigma associated with discussing mental health. I am worried about my future job prospects, because I publicly share a lot about my own struggles with these issues. There are stereotypes surrounding mental health issues: that people who struggle with mental health issues aren’t good workers. That they’re dependents. That they are needy.

I’d like to take a moment to combat these social constructions today.

First, it is often perceived as a weakness when someone openly discusses mental health struggles. I have experienced this first-hand with my dad telling me he knows I’ve been having a really hard time when I bring something up about depression. However, it is only when I feel strong enough to discuss these issues that I speak up. This misconception could lead to others not sharing their stories, further stigmatizing the act of speaking out. When you assume someone only speaks up when they’re suffering, it perpetuates stigma.

Second, a former employer discouraged me, and I believed her, from posting about mental health issues on social media because it could limit my future job prospects. This fear has stuck with me today. I started a blog dedicated to discussing mental health issues about half a year ago. I have yet to delve into my own personal struggles there. I worry, probably with good reason, it will make me a less appealing job prospect someday. The thing is, though, that sharing and discussing these things strengthens everyone – those struggling, those recovering, and those supporting loved ones. By sharing our stories, we feel less alone, and we actively fight against stigma.

I also believe that my mental illness makes me a much more productive worker than I would be otherwise. As my boyfriend said when I started grad school, “Don’t worry, babe, your anxiety won’t let you fail.” Which brings me to my last point.

I debated for a long time over whether to include my own struggles in my personal essay during the application process to this school. But I’m so glad I did. As I wrote in the essay, “While I worry that including this information in my personal statement will come off as oversharing or breaking professional boundaries, I would be diminishing myself and doing a disservice to you as a decision maker if I did not honor my values and disclose this aspect of my belief system that will certainly guide the professional I hope to become.”

Thank you.