Fear & Shame

If I were physically injured, saving someone from a fire, everyone would see me as a hero. What if I was mentally injured saving someone? Would everyone still see me as a hero? Would you have any hesitation reporting a mental injury over a physical injury? I think many of us would.

Why is that? It's because of fear, shame and embarrassment. The sad part is that if some of us report a mental injury, we are blackballed, looked upon as weak, and targeted for elimination. This prevents many of us from getting the help we need, worsening our mental injury.

The idea for this image was given to me by Matt McGregor, a firefighter from Western Canada, and it's a concept many of us can relate to. The fear, shame, embarrassment and negative stigma are this demon's power, and it's preventing many first responders from getting the help they need. Deny this demon his power by standing up to the negative stigma.

Respectfully
DanSun

FearandShame