Talking openly about antidepressants makes it possible to overcome prejudice and encourage support.
- The persistent taboo on antidepressants can discourage those who would like to talk about it or need it.
- Many people still associate antidepressants with “weakness” or “dependence”, when they are only a medical treatment.
- To eliminate the shame linked to antidepressants, it is crucial to consider them as a normal part of mental health care.
If antidepressants save millions of lives around the world, their simple mention can still cause misunderstandings, judgments or embarrassment. This persistent taboo can discourage those who would like to talk about it or need it. However, we can all reduce stigma.
Deconstruct stereotypes
The first obstacle to lift when we talk about antidepressants is that of stereotypes. Many people still associate antidepressants with a “weakness” or “dependence”, while they are only a medical treatment, such as insulin for diabetes or glasses for bad view.
Like many other drugs, antidepressants restore a certain chemical balance to reduce symptoms and allow a better quality of life. By understanding better what it is thanks to the scientific framework, we can help demystify their role and normalize them.
Encourage open dialogue
To talk about antidepressants, it is necessary to start with a respectful and benevolent dialogue. If a loved one tells you that he follows such treatment, listen without judgment and avoid minimizing his experience. For example, instead of saying: “You don’t need that, be strong”, you can say: “Thank you for telling me that, how can I support you?” ».
This reception attitude reduces shame and strengthening confidence. In addition, you can share your own experience, if you have, to remind you that antidepressants do not define a person and that they are only a step in a care path.
Normalize mental health treatments
To eliminate the shame linked to antidepressants, it is crucial to consider them as a normal part of mental health care. Public figures, such as artists or athletes, now openly share their experience with treatments.
Likewise, integrating this subject into everyday discussions, without dramatization or exaggeration, can help to trivialize them. Note that antidepressants are taken could be as natural as saying that a diet is followed for your blood pressure for example.
Find out more: “antidepressants (the real of the false)” by Adeline Gaillard and David Gourion.
