Healthy Communities • Healthy Living
Mental health accessibility barriers are all about attitude
27 September 2016 - by YMCA of Greater Toronto
When it comes to mental health and accessibility, attitude makes all the difference. We can create a positive change through education and awareness to transform our own attitudes and the attitudes of others towards mental health. By doing this, we can reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and support greater accessibility for all.
Stigma resulting from the negative attitudes of others is a huge problem for people living with mental health disabilities. It is a stereotype or negative judgement. Stigma is harmful because it can challenge a person’s sense of self, their relationships, and overall wellbeing. People who are faced with the stigma of their disability have a double burden: not only must they cope with a disabling disorder, but they must also deal with people judging them.
Stigma is an example of an attitudinal barrier, which is the toughest type of obstacle to accessibility. Barriers to accessibility are obstacles that make it difficult (and sometimes impossible) for people with disabilities to do the things many others take for granted — things like going shopping, working, or taking public transit.
We can learn to remove these barriers with awareness and education. When we think about how many people suffer from a mental health disability, we can see why it is so important to create environments which remove barriers to accessibility.
Remove the biggest barrier to accessibility for individuals with mental health disabilities. When we remove attitudinal barriers, we can improve accessibility for all.
Create strategies that focus on removing attitudinal barriers. The Y’s Accessibility and Customer Service Policy, for example, addresses attitudinal barriers by working to create “socially inclusive environments in which everyone, including persons with disabilities, is able to participate fully. Building on a culture that embraces diversity and supports social inclusion, the YMCA is a shared experience for everyone to enjoy.”
Stigma resulting from the negative attitudes of others is a huge problem for people living with mental health disabilities. It is a stereotype or negative judgement. Stigma is harmful because it can challenge a person’s sense of self, their relationships, and overall wellbeing. People who are faced with the stigma of their disability have a double burden: not only must they cope with a disabling disorder, but they must also deal with people judging them.
Stigma is an example of an attitudinal barrier, which is the toughest type of obstacle to accessibility. Barriers to accessibility are obstacles that make it difficult (and sometimes impossible) for people with disabilities to do the things many others take for granted — things like going shopping, working, or taking public transit.
We can learn to remove these barriers with awareness and education. When we think about how many people suffer from a mental health disability, we can see why it is so important to create environments which remove barriers to accessibility.
What can we do to make a positive difference?
Remove the biggest barrier to accessibility for individuals with mental health disabilities. When we remove attitudinal barriers, we can improve accessibility for all.
- Pay close attention to our attitudes about mental health and familiarize ourselves with some myths people have about mental illness.
- Actively improve our knowledge and understanding about mental health through resources like the World Health Organization and Canadian Mental Health Organization.
- Search out local mental health resources in your community.
- Share information on mental health we learn with others and challenge others about their language, and attitudes surrounding mental health disabilities.
Create strategies that focus on removing attitudinal barriers. The Y’s Accessibility and Customer Service Policy, for example, addresses attitudinal barriers by working to create “socially inclusive environments in which everyone, including persons with disabilities, is able to participate fully. Building on a culture that embraces diversity and supports social inclusion, the YMCA is a shared experience for everyone to enjoy.”
