TT Taboo: Therapy
TT Taboo: Therapy
Talking about mental health and mental health issues has become increasingly normalized over the past years. We mark the World Mental Health Day on October 10th, and at NMBU, that whole week is dedicated to mental health. We see panels on mental health with celebrities and therapists, as well as TV-shows and newspaper articles about the topic. Especially in the age of COVID, students’ and the general population's mental health has been a hot topic. But are we actually ready to talk about the means to get better? Are we ready to talk about going to therapy, or is that aspect of mental health still taboo?
Journalist: Sofie Bergset Janols, Elina Turbina
Illustrator: Oda Braar Wæge
To find out, we released a survey on Facebook. Out of the 124 respondents, 98% of whom are NMBU students, 65 people have been to therapy, and 59 people have never done so. In this article, “therapy”, or psychotherapy, refers to short-term mental health counseling, meetings with a psychologist, or long-term therapy.
About going to therapy
Out of those who have gone to therapy, 27% are doing so currently. When asked to rate the usefulness of therapy, the people that have gone to therapy at some point in their life found it generally helpful.
Having someone to talk to, someone non-judgmental outside of their circle that would take them seriously, was one of the most mentioned reasons for why people liked their therapy experiences. Respondents have mentioned that they found therapy helpful for sorting thoughts, and recognizing feelings and thought patterns, which led to them understanding themselves better and being equipped with techniques to manage their day-to-day life. Feeling supported and validated is something people really appreciate, yet there were also some replies indicating that therapists are not always capable of handling their patients in this manner.
Among people that have not gone to therapy, 81%, or 49 people have considered going to therapy, while 11 people have not. The most common reasons for why they never chose to attend therapy are the lack of need for the service, it being too expensive, or the lack of knowledge on how and where to get an appointment. A handful of students feel uncomfortable with the idea, and some don’t see it fitting in their time schedule. One person mentioned their parents being against them getting therapy, which raises a concern about the generational views and stigmatization on the subject. This is something we will come back to later in the article.
So, now that we know the attitude the respondents have towards therapy, it is time to look into the aspect of discussing it publicly. Is it really a taboo topic? Out of all the survey respondents, 84% have talked about going to therapy and 80% of those who have been to therapy themselves have recommended someone else to go to therapy.
Conversations about therapy
Most people have generally positive feelings associated with having conversations about therapy. Many find it easy to talk about, as it is helpful for them in order to become more comfortable around other people, connect, and thus normalize their feelings. They feel like it is an important step they take to “lower the threshold” when it comes to sharing one’s worries and experiences.
While it seems like it has gotten more socially acceptable to talk about therapy, the word “taboo” shows up close to 20 times in the survey answers and the word “shame” 14 times. Despite the positive associations with having conversations about therapy, many of these respondents experience persistent discomfort with the subject, either because of it still being somewhat touchy for them, or because of not feeling knowledgeable enough. Some people worry about stigmatization or being labeled as ‘incomplete’. This relates to the previously mentioned comment about generational differences, as some have expressed that talking to older people is the hardest part, as those usually have less understanding and compassion for the subjects related to mental health.
Avoiding getting mental help
When it comes to avoiding therapy, those who have not gotten it say that they do not find it to be the useful approach to their situation, or that a therapist most likely won’t be able to understand their issues or points of view. Another reason is having no capacity or financial means to go the extra bureaucratic steps to arrange an appointment, as this can take a lot of time, energy, and stress. It often involves long waiting lists and struggles with being matched with the right therapist as well. “Dørstokkmila” - taking that first step can be a big hurdle in itself.
Being able to open up takes a lot of strength and courage, as the societal need to seem strong and healthy is there regardless. It is scary and painful to admit that one has a problem, or to remind oneself of something traumatic. Prioritizing oneself and one’s mental health seems to be a thing many people have a hard time with. People feel like they should be able to deal with it by themselves, without bothering others. Some say that they do not think they have significant issues or issues worthy of taking up space at therapy.
What do you like the most about your experience in therapy or mental counseling?
““Getting a neutral part who has no insight of my life to help me sort my thoughts and help me interpret bad thought patterns and to give me tools to promote good thought patterns.”
What do you think, is the reason for people choosing to avoid therapy or other methods of mental counseling?
«They could be thinking that the problems aren’t “big” enough. I would recommend everyone to seek therapy, no matter if you have problems with your mental health or not.”
“The reason why I still haven’t done it is because don’t want others to know what I’m struggling with. I feel like I’ve got to have a good reason/ serious mental illness to go to therapy. Besides, it could be pretty expensive. And maybe a bit awkward.
How do you feel about having conversations about therapy?
“I think it is natural that you need help in a period of your life. If your teeth are hurting, you see a professional (the dentist). If your body is hurting, you see a professional (for instance a doctor). Why shouldn’t you do the same when you are hurting inside?”
What is the reason for you not to consider therapy?
“Stress and lack of ability to prioritize my own mental health.”
“Don’t want to bother other people with small things.”
“A therapist would never understand the things I’ve seen, and I think it is unnecessary to talk to someone who doesn’t know the feelings associated with the incident.”
Why we (should) talk about therapy
While conversations about mental health and how to approach it are increasingly normalized, we still have quite a way to go. There is a general sense that the young people are more or less knowledgeable in the topic and care about the way society looks at mental health-related conversations. However, when it comes to valuing one’s own mental health, many choose to underestimate it and simply “suck it up” to escape the stigma from parents and friends. But having space and people to share your feelings with, are not something you have to “deserve”. You are already worthy of asking for help and getting it. And it is, of course, up to you how open you are about your journey. But do not deny yourself a chance to feel good again. You deserve better.
Who can I contact to get mental health support?
Health Station for students: 64962240, hfu@as.kommune.no, drop-in: Monday 08.30-11.00, Wednesday 14.30-19.00
SiÅs Student Life center: 90264918, marit.raaf@sias.no, drop-in 08.00-15.30
Student priests: Ingrid - 99015790, io484@kirken.no, drop-in 09.00-14.00
Mental Health phone for students: 116123 every day 17.00–07.00.
