As a Russian woman with a passion for mental health and wellbeing, it was an honour to present with Poppy Jaman at the Moscow Urban Forum on the 2 July. The Forum looked at many aspects impacting the success of urban cities and their people, including a focus on public health. Poppy and I shared the powerful impact of working collaboratively on battling mental health stigma, and had a chance to showcase some of the work of the City Mental Health Alliance.
Discussing the role of employers and workplace mental health in the context of broader society, I reflected on the impact societal attitudes towards mental health can have on our perception of our own wellbeing. The culture around us, and the way we express ourselves, has a huge influence. In the case of the Russian language, my mother tongue, many phrases which are commonplace and frequently used have an underlying message of the importance of being ‘tough’ and ‘resilient’, whilst also reinforcing that expressing emotions can be a sign of ‘weakness’ and ‘vulnerability’. This can have a huge sway, as in my personal experience, on our hesitancy to seek support when we are struggling. Poignant examples from the Russian language include:
- ‘ Не выносить сор из избы ‘ [Keep your arguments in your household/Do not reveal personal arguments to anyone outside your household]
- ‘Мужчины не плачут и не танцуют’ [Men don’t cry or dance]
- ‘ Работа и труд все перетрут’ [Hard work and effort conquer everything ]
- ‘ Слезами горю не поможешь’ [Tears do not help grief]
Many languages have similar phrases that are ingrained into the way we communicate. I can think of many similar English phrases. However, it is important to consider how we challenge the perceptions that are created by such expressions. Organisations, which form a cornerstone of society, have a role to play in impacting culturally accepted attitudes to mental health – and the language they use themselves can be an important part of this.
This blog reflects the personal views and opinions of Anastasia Vinnikova.