Anna Gage, a columnist, discusses the ongoing mental health crisis in the United States, particularly highlighting the stigma surrounding diagnoses and the complexities of peer interventions. With suicide as the third leading cause of death for individuals aged 10 to 24, the need for effective mental health support is urgent, especially during suicide prevention month.
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At the University of North Carolina (UNC), orientation encourages students to report peers who are struggling with mental health issues to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). While fostering a culture of support is vital, Gage emphasizes the importance of thoughtful approaches to intervention rather than initiating conversations with unsolicited diagnoses.
Although friends and family can provide comfort and support, labeling someone as, for example, “anxious” can have detrimental effects on their mental health journey. There are two groups to consider: those who already have support and those who do not. For those with access to help, an external diagnosis can exacerbate existing anxieties and may not reflect their self-perception. It can also generalize their struggles, leading to further stigma.
For those who lack support, Gage does not advocate for abandoning efforts to help. Instead, she suggests offering support without assigning labels. One effective method is to focus on observable behaviors rather than making assumptions about their mental state. This keeps conversations open and respectful of the individual’s experience.
Furthermore, rather than framing discussions as problems to be solved, peers should approach the conversation with an openness that allows friends to express their needs without feeling confined to a diagnosis. Gage urges individuals to navigate these conversations carefully, especially during a month focused on suicide prevention, as the right kind of support can have lasting positive effects.