How Behavioral Health Attracts Stigma, and What Apportis is Doing to Change That
Stigma, defined by the Mayo Clinic as “when someone views you in a negative way because you have a distinguishing characteristic or personal trait that’s thought to be a disadvantage”, is prevalent in the behavioral health field. Many people face stigma before, during and after their journey to improved behavioral health.
According to the American Psychological Association, “More than half of people with mental illness don’t seek help for their disorders. Often, people avoid or delay seeking treatment due to concerns about being treated differently or fears of losing their jobs and livelihood. That’s because stigma, prejudice and discrimination against people with mental illness is still very much a problem.” Additionally, stigma does not only keep many people from ever reaching out for help with their behavioral health, but it can also slow or even reverse the progress that those who do reach out for help have made. People may become embarrassed if their situation with behavioral health becomes known, and it may cause them to stop seeking help from a specialist. Others may not keep up their behavioral health routine of self-care for fear it will make them stand out or be ridiculed.
Stigma for behavioral health is all around us, from the medias portrayal to decreased federal funding for research and development of cures. Stigma can be found in the workplace, at school, within friend groups or even families. Although the problem seems pervasive, there is hope.
Apportis eliminates the feeling of anxiety that someone may see you walking into a behavioral health clinic and the need to ask for time off of work to see a specialist, something many were hesitant to do as they believed it may lead to their boss thinking differently of them. The Apportis platform brings behavioral health to you, with a secure and HIPAA compliant video connection to a case manager or other behavioral health specialist. The platform is loaded with resources that can be browsed from the comfort of your own home. Apportis is an intuitive platform that does not need WIFI, so those of all ages, skill levels, and circumstances can benefit from the extra layer of privacy that Apportis adds to your behavioral health journey. It also eliminates barriers to transportation, childcare, bad weather and even COVID. The main thing Apportis does, however, is allow you to pursue health without the fear of stigma.
Coming from a family of social service providers, I have been exposed to people in crisis my whole life, many of whom were embarrassed to ask for help because stigma is still so prevalent in our society. Looking back, there are many instances I can recall which the Apportis platform would have been invaluable for these people, allowing them to pursue behavioral health care from the comfort, safety and privacy of their own home. Never be embarrassed to ask for help, as it is a sign of strength rather than a weakness. Reach out and see what Apportis can do for you on your path to health.
Author: Page Jennings
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