issue 11// vol 45 opinions // no. 15 = Mental health: The great, unnecessary debate » Why you shouldn't trivialize someone else’s mental health concerns Roshni Riar Staff Writer pening up about a mental health concern isn't easy. I get it, I've been there. It’s an uncomfortable topic to navigate and | am definitely guilty of avoiding those potentially awkward conversations by decidedly steering clear from the mention of mental health altogether. Asa result, I rarely share my feelings. This might spare me some embarrassment every now and then but is ultimately detrimental to my wellbeing and limits the support I could have but may not be aware exists. Unfortunately, this is a shared sentiment amongst people who struggle with their mental health and it impacts them just as negatively. Personally, the reasons for internalizing my mental illness range. To name a few: Struggling to overcome cultural stigmas, not yet accepting my mental illness as being a part of me, and Jessica Berget Opinions Editor Rew I’ve noticed a number of animal ights demonstrations happening all around world. Just this month, protesters have gathered in Vancouver, Fort Langley, New Jersey, and London to challenge and persuade people to give up their use of animal products. As much as I respect people's right to peacefully rally for their beliefs, there is one aspect that comes up in these events that I can’t stand: When they show videos and images of animals being abused or slaughtered. Showing content like this is not going to make people change their lifestyle or stop eating meat. No one wants to see footage of a cow getting shot in the head during their daily commute. It’s obnoxious, cc not wanting to deal with the ramifications that opening up might create, particularly when speaking with someone I think I can trust with that kind of information. The problem isn’t just about opening up, however. Once I've gotten over that hurdle, if I do elect to talk about my mental health with someone else, then there’s the actual conversation to be had and that’s where my frustration begins. What makes opening up so contentious for me is having to deal with other people's reactions. Sure, when you get into a conversation with someone where the primary focus is mental health and illness, there is going to bea reaction. However, there’s a lot of different ways that people can take an admission like “Hey, I’m really struggling with depression right now and Id like to share that with you.” In what some might assume could be flattery, a response that I am generally met with is: “You? No way! I would’ve never guessed, really. Are you sure you're not just having a bad week?” This kind of response is problematic for a number of reasons. Immediately, Screenshot from video by Talita Lima on Youtube traumatizing, and it just makes people uncomfortable—or, if you're like me, angry. Not at the meat or clothing industries, but rather at the protestors showing this horrible footage. This tactic uses shock to scare or guilt people into no longer supporting meat and dairy industries or using animal products. However, using these scare tactics to make people think or feel a certain way is not a good way to advocate your cause and it doesn't make a positive difference. In fact, I think it makes you and the entire animal rights community look like assholes. Furthermore, many people—especially children—are sensitive to the content = I’m being challenged and not accepted or understood. It might seem like the right reaction to have, acting like it’s unfathomable that I could be struggling, but it puts me ina place where I feel the need to defend myself or somehow prove that I am in fact being honest. If I feel strongly compelled enough to be opening up, the last thing I want to do is be questioned about whether or not I’m certain that it’s depression that’s bothering me. I shouldn't feel the need to behave a certain way in order for someone to believe me. Challenging someone’s mental health doesn’t open up a conversation; it ends up becoming an analysis of the person who just admitted their struggles. When someone expresses disbelief in your mental illness, it also highlights the fact that a lot of people unfortunately depend on stereotypes to form their understanding of what depression or anxiety may look like. It cements the idea that people expect certain things from a “depressed” individual—and the fact that I’m loud, crack jokes, and relatively social doesn’t sit well with their preconceived notions or beliefs. Reacting with shock also means that youre not reacting any other way, whether that be with understanding, concern, or compassion. It’s hard to move past that initial reaction, and if I feel perturbed by having to explain myself in a way I wasn't prepared for, I’m not going to want to redirect the conversation so that you can start over and try another approach. The takeaway from this rant is that people need to take a moment and pause when someone shares something as heavy as a mental health concern with you. You may feel shocked because you genuinely didn’t think your friend was feeling so terrible, which is totally valid. Instead of asking if they’re sure, or expressing how you can’t believe it, just ask them if they're okay. Ask them what's worrying them. Listen to what they have to say. Don’t trivialize someone who's going out ona limb to share and reach out for support. Reach back and offer them a hand—don't make them prove themselves before you're willing to help them. Your cause doesnt justify showing videos of animals being killed » It’s going to make people hate you and everything you stand for of these images or videos and could be traumatized by them. It’s important to think about how this form of protesting really affects people, instead of just thinking about how it supports your cause. The thing is, showing people this abuse is not going to end their exploitation. Many people already know of the atrocities that occur in the meat and dairy farms, so I don’t think showing these clips raises any more awareness. The onus of ending this abuse should not be on what individual people are putting on their plates, but on the corporations. In fact, in an article by Vox that focuses on this very idea, they found that organizations that target It’s important to think about how this form of protesting really affects people, instead of just thinking about how it supports your cause. corporations with welfare campaigns have a higher success rate in achieving demands than organizations that target consumers. Thus, publicly showing these videos is not only horrifying, it’s an unsuccessful avenue for change, so there’s no reason people should still be doing this. If someone wants to become vegan, vegetarian, or just wants to reduce their meat intake, it should be because of their own self-determination and personal choices, not because they were scared or guilt-tripped into it because of protesting tactics like these. If you try to force people to think the same way as you, it will be met with resistance and hostility. Ergo, making people watch videos of animals being killed because you think everyone should adopt a meat-free lifestyle is both absurd and ineffective.