Dr. Terri Lyon shares answers from her book and micro-course Make a Difference with Mental Health Activism, including a 5-step path.
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Dr. Terri Lyon is a licensed psychologist and co-author, along with Trish Lockard, of the book Make a Difference with Mental Health Activism. She created a one-hour micro-course on the same topic at Walden University, where she is a faculty member in the online PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology program. She also blogs about activism on her website, Life at the Intersection.
What is mental health activism and advocacy?
Activism is any action meant to influence others to support your cause. It refers to a behavioral change, whereas advocacy, which is also vitally important to change, involves eliciting a change to public policy.
Advocacy is essential to mental health awareness. Advocacy includes educating people about issues such as stigma. Advocacy is also used to welcome and prepare volunteers for activism work.
When you imagine activism, you might think of people protesting in the streets or speaking out from the steps of a governor’s office. But that type of activism might not be your cup of tea. The good news is there are many ways activists can make change, such as educating others, volunteering with patient and family support programs, lobbying, and fundraising.
Here’s something important that mental health activist, author, and podcaster Gabe Howard shared with me:
“Activism work is indescribably rewarding. But buckle up! It’s a slow process that is filled with more setbacks than anything. Tenacity matters—but so does professionalism. If you choose to be a mental health activist, that means that when someone says something offensive, awful, or stigmatizing, your job is to help them understand why stigma is not cool. I understand the urge to scold people, but that’s not advocacy. That’s revenge. Take a deep breath and explain your feelings and the feelings of all of us. You will create a safe space to answer questions and have a much-needed conversation. That’s the only way forward.”
How do I start being an advocate for mental health?
On my website and in my micro-course and book, I introduce new activists to my five-step Activism Path, a road map to better recognize your talents and experiences and passions. It is effective for people who want to be activists in mental health or any other area they are passionate about.
Here’s an overview of how you can become an advocate for mental health:
- Step 1: Focus Your Passion: Don’t get overwhelmed trying to solve every problem. Clarify your image of the ideal life and ideal world and find the cause that means the most to you. If you choose the cause closest to your heart, you stay motivated.
- Step 2: Clarify Your Unique Skills: Inventory the gifts—skills, knowledge, and motivation—you will bring to activism. If you use the skills and knowledge you already possess, you’ll be more effective. And if you’re more effective, you’ll be more motivated and engaged.
- Step 3: Do Activism You Love: Consider your options for various activism methods. By recognizing your gifts, you can find a method that will light your fire.
- Step 4: Make a Difference: We’re all busy. The time you spend on activism is precious, so make it count. Make sure the work you choose makes a real difference to a person, a group, or an organization.
- Step 5: See Change Happen: Ready yourself by setting goals that will motivate you, and celebrate your progress, while keeping you focused on achieving the best results from your work. And while you are working for the greater good, recognize signs of stress. Beware of burnout! Sometimes activism is hard, and it is vital to take care of yourself. By identifying when you are stressed and managing it before it overwhelms you, you'll be able to make change happen for a longer time.
What is an example of a mental health activist?
My book is filled with examples of ordinary people becoming extraordinary mental health activists. Here are a couple of them and excerpts of what they shared with me.
Karyl Chastain Beal is not a well-known author, performer, speaker, social media influencer, or podcaster. She is a woman living in Spring Hill, Tennessee, who experienced her own pain and saw the pain of others and decided to turn a craft she loved into a key to open a locked door to a dark room and shine a desperately needed light.
Miana Bryant is, by any measure, a remarkable young woman. In her early teens, she was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Adolescence is hard enough, but her struggle was life altering. Bryant took her mental health challenges and created something good—The Mental Elephant.
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