Language is everything: The importance of mental health literacy

I remember as a kid, every night my grandpa would sit me down at the dining table, and force me to read the dictionary to him. We would spend hours each night, going over every word and definition. He even went as far as making me create my own definitions to prove that I actually understood each word’s true meaning. As a kid, I hated this. Now that I am older, I understand what he was trying to teach me; the importance of literacy. With age, I have learned that literacy extends beyond just reading words in a book. It broadens how we think, understand, and view the world around us - especially regarding complex matters such as mental health.

I think deep down I always knew that the people around me were not like everyone else. Ever since I could remember, I have witnessed the unspoken struggles, the never-ending fears, and the pain that was our normal. We lacked the words to explain these experiences. So we were left to carry these unmentionable burdens, without ever understanding what we did to deserve them. Or how to get rid of them. Or even just live with them. No one ever taught us the proper vocabulary we needed to express ourselves, so we continued in silence, passing down the assumption that this soul-crushing weight was a natural part of everyday life.

This concept was strengthened by the fact that the language we needed to communicate our feelings did not exist in our mother tongues. Words like “anxiety” and “depression” ceased to exist in our vocabulary.

Growing up in a traditional South Asian household and community, mental health was either only heard of in hushed whispers or simply ignored altogether. Without the proper knowledge and language to label our experiences, it was difficult to seek help. Leaving these unspoken struggles to become another aspect of life, and to be passed down to future generations.

Furthermore, these struggles were easily dismissed due to mental health largely focusing on and following Western perspectives and frameworks. Mental health struggles in many cultures are viewed as separate from everyday experiences. For me, almost everyone I knew had some type of silent mental health struggle to the point where that was our normal. If everyone had similar issues, what could possibly be wrong? Why would we ever need to tell a doctor? Or seek help?

This disconnect makes seeking help nearly impossible as the concepts do not perfectly align with our cultural norms. Additionally, social barriers like stigma make the process of acknowledging the struggle and seeking support intimidating, and almost wrong. Despite this, some people are able to overcome challenges, however, when they do, they are often met with another; the challenge of navigating a system that does not acknowledge their experiences and needs. It is crucial for there to be a place for us that understands and validates our unique perspectives, from cultural, to religious, to socio-economic standards, when it comes to mental health.

Overall, mental health literacy is essential in all communities to ensure that mental health care is inclusive. Throughout my journey, I have learned that mental health literacy is more than just learning the right words. It is about fostering a space where all individuals can seek their desired support. It is about breaking the cycle of struggling in silence.

Blog written by Athavi, a Youth Ambassador with The Grove Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario

At the Grove Youth Wellness Hubs Ontario – Wellington Guelph we aim to foster safe spaces where youth ages 12-26 can receive the support they need to build positive, bright futures. Youth can drop in to any of the Grove six sites to connect with friends as well as access critical wellness services. The Grove sites offer support for a wide range of needs including mental health, substance use, primary care, education, employment, training, housing and other community and social services. All local, all accessible and all available in one location.