and breaking down more barriers, it’s slowly dissipating. It wasn’t until the middle of the 20th century that the stigmatisation of mental illness or disorders was even recognised as a scientific concept, and it was eventually established empirically in the 1970s. Prior to that, those struggling with any kind of mental health issue were openly treated as lesser members of society, with history documenting improper – and in too many cases, horrific – means of managing such individuals. It takes time for these kinds of prejudices and stigmas to break down, so it’s really no surprise that this alone would’ve stopped many people from pursuing help. A second issue revolves around money. Therapy was – and for the most part, still is – a privilege, with treatments often being too expensive for those who needed it. Combining cost with stigma and the lack of awareness around mental health as an invisible illness, people weren’t prepared to invest their time and money into their mental health because it wasn’t socially seen as something to be prioritised. Even when therapy did become more widely accepted, popular culture contributed to social misconceptions of what the process looked like by presenting therapy as laying on a leather couch talking to a well-spoken, suited white man in his seventies. Really, it’s no surprise that this combination of factors took therapy off of the table for previous generations.
discussions surrounding mental health, and subsequently, therapy, to a bigger platform and audience. The concept of going to therapy has become more normalised thanks to these conversations, and a number of celebrities have used the opportunity to talk about their own struggles and how they were able to receive help. At a time where celebrity culture is one of the most influential aspects of society as we know it, even a single tweet or Instagram post from a famous face has enough clout to generate awareness and work towards undoing the damage caused by mental health stigma. But it’s not just celebrities who are working to normalise therapy: it’s Millennials, too. Companies are taking advantage of smartphone usage to create therapy and counselling apps, catering for busy schedules and a variety of budgets. The loud call for mental health support amongst Millennials is encouraging their educators and their employers to better look out for their mental welfare, and it’s shifting the learning and working environments respectively. Normalising therapy is one of the best things that could come from our ‘trending’ culture, and it will undoubtedly show its benefits, not to mention inspire the future of mental health awareness – and that’s all thanks to Millennials. Therapy is recognised amongst this heavily-criticised generation as a tool worth utilising for their own good, even beyond their mental health. It’s no longer as a quick fix prescription and more like a long-term commitment to themselves, and other generations might just want to take a leaf out of their book.
Luckily, we live in a society now that’s trying to normalise therapy. Whilst social media can be a catalyst for so many mental health issues and the perpetuation of unattainable standards, it’s actually allowed us to take
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