Bridging the Divide – Lessons from Mental Health Advocacy to Overcome Political Polarization
- Brainz Magazine
- Nov 26
- 4 min read
Written by Taylor Locke, Mental Health Advocate
Taylor Locke is a noteworthy mental health advocate and professional speaker. They are the founder of the New York State Mental Health Week program and a U.S. Representative for the Global Mental Health Peer Network.
We are living in a time of rising division, global conflict, and deepening distrust. In the U.S., for example, the past year has seen an alarming spike in political assassinations and authoritarian rhetoric, as well as a major shift away from international cooperation and diplomacy, as illustrated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s speech addressing and condemning the UN General Assembly in September. We’re polarized, not just politically, but socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
In the midst of this, one often overlooked impact is our collective mental health. These divisions aren’t just ideological, they’re making us sick. Anxiety, depression, and PTSD are on the rise worldwide, especially in communities most impacted by war, poverty, displacement, or other forms of systemic oppression. Despite an overall growing sense of awareness, access to care remains limited. Stigma, poor funding, and political gridlock prevent real progress.
So how do we move forward when everything feels like it’s falling apart?
The answer starts with a shift, not just in policy, but in perspective. Mental health is not a partisan issue, it’s a human one. While we may not be able to solve every global conflict, we can begin building bridges, starting with ourselves.
From polarization to possibility: 10 ways to start healing
If we want to address the mental health crisis, we need to tackle the root causes of division. Here are practical strategies that individuals and organizations can use to promote unity and compassion in an increasingly polarized world:
1. Start by examining yourself
Before trying to change others, take a deep look inward. What are your own subconscious biases? What narratives have you internalized about “the other side”? True bridge-building starts with self-reflection. If you're not open to listening, learning, and being challenged, you're likely reinforcing the very walls you’re trying to dismantle.
2. Advocate for accountability in media and tech
Misinformation spreads hate, deepens divisions, and derails meaningful conversations. Push for policies that hold individuals and companies accountable for knowingly sharing misleading or false information, especially across social media platforms and through the usage of AI. Propaganda isn’t anything new, but to ensure fair systems, we need laws that can keep up with the latest developments of the digital age.
3. Promote digital literacy
With the rise of issues such as fake news, deepfakes, and AI-generated propaganda, we need widespread education efforts to help people identify credible sources, spot manipulative content, and think critically about what they consume online. Social media is a double-edged sword, and it’s imperative that we use these online platforms to promote media literacy and champion truth-seeking as a life skill.
4. Engage the uninformed, not the unreachable
Not everyone who disagrees with you is an extremist. Many people simply haven’t been exposed to accurate or diverse perspectives. Focus your energy on those who are willing to have a conversation. Approach with curiosity, not condescension.
5. Reframe the narrative
Language matters. Want to discuss mental health with a conservative audience? Talk about PTSD in veterans and first responders. Want to reach progressives? Frame it in terms of racial justice and systemic equity. Tailoring your message doesn’t mean compromising your values, it means making your message heard.
6. Don’t feed the extremes
Resist the urge to argue with trolls or give oxygen to extremist content. These interactions rarely lead to growth, they usually just deepen hostility. Your energy is better spent elsewhere, building relationships, fostering community, and creating real change.
7. Step out of your bubble
We all have echo chambers. Maybe it's your group chat, your Twitter feed, or your favorite subreddit. Challenge yourself to learn from people in different fields, communities, or political ideologies. Collaboration across disciplines helps us see the bigger picture and find new solutions.
8. Set limits on media and clickbait
Outrage sells, and political clickbait is everywhere. Limit your media consumption and avoid falling into a doomscrolling spiral. Curate your news intake with intention. Choose depth over drama.
9. Center diverse and lived experiences
Too often, decisions about mental health policy and advocacy are made without the input of the people most affected. We must prioritize the voices of those with lived experience, especially youth, BIPOC communities, and people from marginalized groups. Expertise comes in many forms, and lived reality is one of them.
10. Take care of yourself, you’re in this for the long haul
Change doesn’t happen overnight. Avoid burnout by prioritizing rest, connection, and self-care. It’s okay to take breaks. In fact, it’s necessary. As activists often say, rest is resistance. We’re playing the long game, and we need to stay strong for the road ahead.
The bigger picture
While mental health should be a bipartisan issue, the underlying and interconnected factors are inherently political. However, that doesn’t mean it has to be divisive.
When we prioritize mental well-being as a shared value, one that transcends politics, we open the door to collaboration, compassion, and collective healing. It's time to reimagine what advocacy looks like, not just shouting across aisles, but sitting down at the same table, listening, and working together.
We may live in a divided world, but unity is still possible. If we can believe in a better world, we can make it a reality.
Read more from Taylor Locke
Taylor Locke, Mental Health Advocate
Taylor Locke is an award-winning mental health advocate and acclaimed international speaker. Once on track to work on U.S. Naval Nuclear Reactors, a life-altering series of events redirected their path. From surviving unimaginable trauma to influencing policy and research at global levels, Taylor is a certified “expert by experience” and has held various leadership roles across the world. Their work bridges science, storytelling, and the power of communities to push for powerful change.
