So what does all of this mean for a therapist-in-training?

After a thorough review of the inaccurate portrayal of mental illness in these social media posts, I as a therapist-in-training am learning how much this will likely impact not only my future work but also my personal life. As I mentioned in my first post, we incorrectly use mental illness terminology all throughout our everyday conversation. I fully admit to having been one of these people in the past, which I am definitely not proud of. It is clear from this analysis that while the intent may not be intentional harm, the indirect impact can be even more harmful. I believe I now have a responsibility to help raise awareness through my conversations with others who do not suffer from mental illness. Instead of just rolling my eyes or shaking my head at someone's insensitive comment or social media post, it's important for me to advocate for those that I work with and help others really understand the impact of this misrepresentation. I am in a position where I can help bridge the divide between those with and without mental illnesses so we can begin to build empathy and facilitate understanding. This is definitely a big mountain to climb and a feat that I cannot accomplish alone, but it's important that I do my part. Additionally, I need to continue to find resources to help me help my clients continue this work with their families and friends while they learn to cope. The issues raised in this blog could very well come up in a therapy session, and I need to be prepared to help my clients work through these issues. I look forward to continue to learn strategies and skills to not only support my clients but also advocate for the population with whom I work. We as a society have a ways to go with eliminating mental illness stigmas, but all we can do is take one step at a time.