January 27, 2016 is Bell Let’s Talk Day in Canada. It’s a day devoted to talking about mental health issues. If you think about it, talk about mental health should be as ordinary as talk about your dentist.

Talk about mental health should be like talking about dental health.

In America, how many times have you heard at the office, school, or party “I’ve got to leave at 3:00 today because I have to visit my dentist.” No one gives a second look. But try saying “I’ve got to leave at 3:00 today because I’m visiting my psychiatrist for my OCD.” Try it. Hear the silence and take a look at the looks you get.

That’s why we have to talk about mental health. Why we have to talk about OCD, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety…you name it, let’s talk about it! There shouldn’t be stigma.

Comedian Howie Mandel talks openly about his OCD.

Howie Mandel first told the world about his OCD on the Howard Stern show. It was by accident and Howie thought it was the end of the world for him. He ran outside and thought about jumping into traffic. What saved Howie was someone came up to him and said, “I just heard you on the Howard Stern show”, then whispering “Me too.”

You’re not the only one in the world suffering with a mental health issue. There’s no shame or reason to not talk about it. Be brave. Let’s make talking about mental health as easy as saying you’re seeing a dentist.

Retweet or repost @howiemandel’s story to get more people talking about #BellLetsTalk

Twitter: @tereziafarkas  #BellLetsTalk  #mentalhealth  #Healthy_Minds