May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s coming to a close. There have been so many wonderful articles in the national media this month shining a light on the many mental health-related things our society often relegates to the shadows. This article from ChicagoNow.com is particularly sensitive to what those struggling with mental health issues experience, so we wanted to share the following excerpt and encourage you to click through using the link below. In the spirit of this article and Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s work together to remove the stigmas associated with mental health challenges and make it safe and comfortable for those in need to seek help.
- People with mental illness are not stupid or lazy. Some of the most intelligent and most accomplished people in the world have suffered from mental illness. Abraham Lincoln, Ernest Hemingway, Vincent Van Gogh, Michelangelo, Sylvia Plath, and Vivien Leigh are just a few people who are known to have suffered from mental illness and no one would call them stupid or lazy…
- People with mental illness don’t want your pity or to be condescended to. First and foremost, people with mental illness want and deserve to be treated with respect. Take your cues from them. Be patient. They can’t always get their thoughts out quickly, but by being patient and not rushing or cutting them off shows respect, treats them with dignity, and re-enforces their value as people.
- Mental illness is not a personal failing. Most mental illness is caused by some sort of hormonal mix-up (yep, that’s a medical phrase). Yes, there are things we can do to ward off mental illness, but we cannot control it completely. Mental illness isn’t caught like the flu; you can’t get it by associating with someone who is mentally ill. It is, however, genetic. That means that if mental illness runs in your family, you need to be aware of it, understand your pre-disposal, and act accordingly. Mental illness is no one’s “fault” and in no way makes the person with mental illness less worthy of love.
- Mental illness isn’t necessarily permanent. A person who suffers from depression or anxiety (or other mental illnessess) may be suffering from situational depression or anxiety. For example, a person may be dealing with the death of a loved one and normal grief, but their grief may morph into clinical depression. Through treatment, they can recover completely. However, one severely depressive episode makes them more likely to have another. Additionally, even people who suffer from more chronic mental illness can learn tools to help deal with their illness and live a fully productive life.