That provided much-needed visibility to these issues, and that may have started a change.īut even today, as we speak more freely about mental health, many people still face stigma and barriers to treatment. Without mental health advocates, we would likely still be talking about mental health conditions in whispers.Īt some point, an advocate spoke publicly about depression, schizophrenia, or domestic violence. Why are mental health advocates important? It’s amplifying their voices, stepping up to shield and support them, and contributing to their progress.įor example, white folks can act as allies for Black or Latino communities by being inclusive, standing up to racism and hate expressions, and providing safe spaces.Īllyship doesn’t necessarily include speaking out publicly or becoming a spokesperson. It involves supporting a community you’re not a part of. Although many people use the terms interchangeably, they’re not the same.īeing an ally can be one-to-one or a group effort. Instead, she says, “it seeks medical justice.” Is advocacy the same as allyship? However, this doesn’t involve fighting for social justice. In fact, most activists are advocates for their causes, while advocates are not necessarily activists.Ī mental health advocate is “anyone who speaks out against the stigma associated with mental health issues and promotes seeking medical help for mental health issues,” explains Indra Cidambi, a certified psychiatrist in Summit, New Jersey. You can be both an advocate and an activist. These activities can include:īoth activists and advocates work toward social change and aim to represent those who most need it. Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights, activism is an action-oriented effort.Īdvocacy, on the other hand, involves publicly representing or speaking on behalf of a cause.Īctivism also involves speaking up but often includes organizing and participating in activities to promote, protest, or lead change regarding a controversial topic. While there are definitely similarities between advocates and activists, they’re not necessarily the same.Īccording to the U.S. Is a mental health acitivist the same as an advocate? But developing a blog or engaging in online conversations may feel natural. You may not be comfortable going to in-person events, for example. You can be an advocate for yourself and others. You can find your own way to be a spokesperson for a cause close to your heart. In sum, there are no unique formulas to be a mental health advocate. participating in other grassroots efforts.showing up for awareness events such as walks.developing a strategy to amplify an issue or provide visibility to a marginalized groupĪudrey Grunst, a licensed adult and adolescent therapist in Northbrook, Illinois, says mental health advocates are people who show up in a public way.
researching a topic and sharing your findings.speaking on behalf of those who cannot or will not.speaking on behalf of groups or organizations that practice activism.educating people at school, work, or community about a specific topic.A mental health advocate focuses on mental health topics.Ī mental health advocate becomes aware of an issue or need and then speaks about it to others, so they, too, become aware or gain knowledge. An advocate, in general, is someone who supports and speaks up on behalf of a specific cause or group of people.
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