Michelle Obama wants a stronger push to end the stigma surrounding mental health issues, which the first lady says prevents people from getting treatment.
“We should make it clear that getting help isn’t a sign of weakness — it’s a sign of strength — and we should ensure that people can get the treatment they need,” Obama wrote in an op-ed published Wednesday in the Huffington Post.
Obama wrote that mental health is just as important as physical health, and said it should be treated that way.
“Sadly, too often, the stigma around mental health prevents people who need help from seeking it,” she wrote. She called for the nation to become more educated about signs of mental health problems and to “reach out and have tough conversations” with those who need help.
The first lady used her op-ed to tell the story of a young Navy veteran who tried to commit suicide, but instead sought help. She wrote that suicide is one of the preventable outcomes of mental illnesses that can be treated with help.
Last year, the Obama administration launched the Campaign to Change Direction to take on mental health. The White House has also sought to increase access to mental health through Obamacare.
Efforts to move mental health reform legislation has stalled in Congress, as committees in both the House and Senate have bipartisan bills waiting to be moved forward.
