Anyone Can Be Affected by Mental Illness

            I read a quote that really made me think.  So, I decided to write about it.  Here is the quote:

            "Anyone can be affected, despite their level of success or their place on the food chain. In fact, there is a good chance you know someone who is struggling with it since nearly 20% of American adults face some form of mental illness in their lifetime. So why aren’t we talking about it?” — Kristen Bell

            Mental illness is a reality in our world.  Bell is correct when she says anyone can be affected by mental illness.  It can attack anyone regardless of race, religion, or socio-economic status.  Mental illness does not discriminate.  I didn’t check her statistic, but it is in the right ballpark. We probably all know someone who lives with mental illness whether we know it or not.  So, yes, we should be talking about mental illness.

            What does mental illness look like?  There is no one description of mental illness.  It doesn’t have a typical look. Mental illness looks different for each individual it affects.  Mental illness can mean depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, or borderline personality disorder.  These are just a few of the disorders that fall under the umbrella of mental illness.  These disorders have many symptoms.  Some are shared across disorders.  Others are unique to specific disorders. 

            What does talking about mental illness mean?  Talking about mental illness means having conversations about these disorders and how they affect people.  It means raising awareness by being open about these disorders.  These conversations are difficult.  They require openness and honesty.  We should be talking about ways to ensure individuals with these disorders are receiving the health care they deserve.  The conversations should be no different than a conversation about a physical illness.

When talking about mental illness it is important to put the person first.  For example, we should be saying a person with depression, not a depressed person.  Recognizing the person before the disorder is important.  It shows respect for the individual.  He, she, or they are not the diagnosis.  

Mental health disorders are not descriptors.  We should not be using these diagnoses as adjectives.   The weather is not bipolar.  A person is not depressed when their favorite football team loses.  Someone who likes things clean is not OCD.  Using mental health disorders in this way is not talking about mental illness.  This is how mental illness becomes demeaned and stigmatized.  

With the number of people who suffer from mental illness, discussions should be taking place about identification, treatment, prevention, recovery, and research.  We have these conversations about illnesses such as cancer and heart disease.  Mental illness deserves the same attention.  

According to John Hopkins Medicine, 26% of Americans 18 and older have a diagnosable mental health disorder. That is about 1 in 4 American adults.   That is a significant number, and it is not even counting children with mental health disorders.  By comparison, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 5% of adults aged 20 and older have coronary artery disease (CAD).  When looking at cancer, approximately 39.5% of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer according to the National Cancer Institute.  These numbers show that mental illness impacts Americans at a similar rate as other diseases that receive attention. 

My interpretation of these statistics is that mental illness affects enough people that it should be given equal attention.  It should be talked about.  Action should be taken.  I am grateful that the conversation has increased.  When my mental illness first emerged, there was very little conversation about depression.  Its presence was hushed.  The resources available were slim.  I had no one to turn to for support.  As a result, I did what many people with mental illness do, even today, I kept it hidden.  When you hide mental illness, it makes it more difficult to receive treatment.  Even though I felt alone and at times still do today, the numbers indicate that I am not alone.  That is why we need to have conversations about mental health.

Awareness and funding need to be raised.  Thankfully, the conversation is getting louder. Organizations like NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) are trying to get mental illness into conversations at all levels.  Awareness is spreading, but we need more.  We need to not only discuss mental illness, but we need to reduce the stigma.  We need to normalize taking mental health days in school and the workplace.  Jokes about mental illnesses need to stop.  When the social media or the entertainment industry make jokes about mental illness, they are making it harder for a person with a mental illness to reach out for help.  

Bell points out that it shouldn’t matter who we are, we can have a mental illness.  People of any socioeconomic status, any race, or any religion can have a mental illness.  These disorders do not discriminate.  No one is immune. For that reason, the issue of mental illness should concern all of us.  Paying attention to your friends and family is important step.  Ask others how they are doing and listen to the answer.  

The important thing is to remember that mental illnesses are illnesses.  We need to take them as seriously as heart disease, cancer, and other physical illnesses.  Seeing a therapist or other mental healthcare professional should be just as normal as seeing a primary care provider.  When you hear someone make a joke or use a mental illness causally, take advantage of the opportunity to educate them.  Let them know mental illness is not a joke.  

It is important to take care of your own mental health.  Learn about the signs of mental illness. Reading blogs like this one can be a good step towards learning about mental illness. There are podcasts you can learn from.  I recommend The Giving Voice to Depression podcast, which can be found wherever you get your podcasts.  

We can encourage our lawmakers to designate funding to mental health or participate in fundraisers for mental health.  Add positives to the conversation.  Someday you or someone you love may suffer from a mental illness.