
By Caroline Harroe (Harmless CEO)
As a mental health leader, owning your own mental health experience can be a difficult and complex experience. On one hand, sharing your experiences can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and show others that it’s okay to seek help when needed. On the other hand, it can be challenging to balance the need to be open and honest about your experiences with the need to maintain professional boundaries and provide effective care for your clients.
Here are some tips for owning your own mental health experience as a mental health leader:
1. Seek support: It’s important to have a support system in place when you’re dealing with your own mental health challenges. This can be a therapist, a support group, or trusted friends and family. Having people who you can talk to about your experiences can help you process your feelings and manage any challenges that may arise.
2. Set boundaries: While it’s important to be open and honest about your experiences, it’s also important to set boundaries to ensure that you’re providing effective care for your clients. This may mean not sharing certain details about your experiences, or being mindful of how your experiences may impact your ability to provide care.
3. Practice self-care: Owning your own mental health experiences can be emotionally challenging, so it’s important to practice self-care. This may mean taking time off when you need it, engaging in activities that bring you joy, or seeking support from a therapist or other mental health professional.
4. Embrace vulnerability: Owning your own mental health experiences requires vulnerability, which can be uncomfortable. However, being vulnerable can also be empowering, and can help you connect with others who may be going through similar experiences.
5. Use your experiences to inform your practice: Your own experiences can provide valuable insights into the mental health challenges that your clients may be facing. Use your experiences to inform your practice and provide more empathetic and effective care.
In summary, owning your own mental health experience as a mental health leader can be challenging, but it’s also an opportunity to reduce stigma, connect with others, and provide more effective care. Seek support, set boundaries, practice self-care, embrace vulnerability, and use your experiences to inform your practice.