David Myles on Tumblr

Having served as lieutenant commander in the US Navy, Dr. David Myles practices pediatric medicine at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. A twice-elected council member in Rockville, Maryland, he works to create a safer city responsive to all residents. Dr. David Myles has envisioned less crowded schools to meet students’ academic needs better and generate improved learning outcomes. While active in the Navy, Dr. David Myles delivered personalized patient care and provided instruction to medical residents. When deployed on the USNS Comfort for Continuing Promise, he engaged as director of inpatient pediatrics and worked with Operation Paperback to ensure patients had interesting reads at hand. He also served as vice chair of the Ethics Committee at his hospital and set in place mental health screening as a standardized part of well-child visits. Dr. David Myles has also been integrally involved in efforts to address the opioid-use crisis through the Rockville Goes Purple campaign. As a member of Maryland’s Opioid Restitution Fund Advisory Council, he has advocated opioid issues before the Academy of Pediatrics’s Maryland chapter.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics Advocacy Areas

​Currently the nation's largest professional pediatrics association (over 60,000 members), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) empowers

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What to Know About Maryland Rent Increase Laws

Post-pandemic rent increases have become a concern for tenants nationwide. Some have advocated for rent stabilization or control. Maryland…

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Strategies to Reduce Mental Illness Stigma

Stigmatizing means viewing anything deviant from what people consider normal as unpleasant or even disgraceful. Mental illness has long had a negative connotation, often because many don’t understand it. Fighting or reducing the stigma associated with mental illness necessitates showing how stereotyping impacts those who are dealing with it.

Public stigma occurs when a large part of the population believes individuals with mental illness are incompetent, dangerous, or responsible for their own conditions. Often, those holding these views rarely interact with people living with mental illness, whether at an informal or official level. Systemic stigma, on the other hand, refers to stereotypes within the system – laws or policies that prevent those with mental illness from obtaining essentials like a home or a job.

Education is vital to combat stigma. People need to understand what different mental health issues are, where they stem from, and how to manage them. Seeking such knowledge has two effects. First, it helps separate the person from the diagnosis, encouraging the use of person-first language. For instance, instead of referring to someone as schizophrenic, one can say that person has schizophrenia. Second, it helps people adjust their thinking, become less judgmental, and be more accommodating to those with mental illness.

Yet, education alone is not enough. People need to speak up when they witness mental health stigma, whether displayed through insensitive comments, attitudes, or language. Taking a stand and debunking myths empowers those with mental conditions to speak of their experience and be their own advocates.

Discrimination itself can have a detrimental effect on those with mental health challenges, often making it harder for them to seek help. Lending an ear and validating the feelings of the struggler encourages them to get the assistance they need. Support also extends to fundraising efforts that boost awareness and provide resources for mental health care.

On a broader scale, people can combat stigma by challenging media portrayals of those with mental health issues, which often shape public attitudes. Action against such portrayals can take the form of launching social media campaigns to hold conventional outlets accountable for their remarks or assumptions or writing direct letters to counter articles with stereotypical content.

Likewise, people can rally to change policies discriminating against individuals with mental illness, pushing for those that improve mental health situations. Such advocacy can include policies for equitable access to critical health services, social determinants of health (e.g., inclusion or poverty), and those focusing on thematic areas such as preventing mental illness and supporting rehabilitation.

Investing in mental health programs, particularly at institutions like schools or workplaces, can reduce stigma. For instance, employers can provide programs addressing the various needs of those struggling with mental health, ensuring ease of access and culturally sensitive care from qualified professionals. Having leadership dedicated to overseeing these offerings shows a commitment to mental support and well-being and fosters a culture of non-discrimination and encouragement for seeking help.

Various resources can help inform people about mental illness and combat related stigma. Websites and discussion materials, for instance, have factual information that individuals can use to correct common myths. Interactive activities such as empathy exercises also help people understand what it is like for someone to live with a mental illness. Moreover, screening tools can help people identify stigmatizing attitudes in themselves.