Mental Illness in America Today

                  Today I was sent a message on social media expressing fear that our government leaders want to send people with mental illness to another country. It was the first I had heard of this, but sadly it didn’t surprise me. I don’t know if there is actual truth to what I saw. I know what I heard and saw. Hopefully, it was just rambling. 

                  So many people do not understand depression and other mental illnesses. That fact is scary especially when some of the people who don’t understand are people who hold positions of decision-making and power in our country. I have heard talk that certain government officials want to put people with mental illness to work on farms and take away anti-depressants. A lot of it is fearmongering, but these things are being tossed out into the public. For those of us who have read history books and learned of past aggressions in the world, this is a red flag. For those of us who learned this history and live with mental illness, it is downright frightening. 

                  So, let’s take a moment to understand what mental illness is and is not.  The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines mental illnesses as “…health conditions involving changes in emotion, thinking or behavior (or a combination of these).” Notice that the definition starts with “health conditions”. This means that mental illness is a health condition just like heart disease or cancer are health conditions.  According to the APA more than one in five adults has a mental disorder that is diagnosable. Serious mental illness impacts one in 20 adults. In addition, a substance abuse disorder can be diagnosed in one in six adults. 

Mental illness is not a choice. It is not something that people invite into their lives. Those of us with mental illness do not have an on/off switch for our symptoms. Mental illness is not something to be taken lightly or joked about. Mental illness cannot be taken lightly. It is an illness, not a choice.

                  Most of us living with mental illness continue to function in our daily lives. We work. We engage with family and friends. We are integral members of society. Many people with mental illness take medication or receive some other form of treatment. There is a government official saying that medications such as antidepressants are addicting. This person went so far as to say that antidepressants are more addicting than heroin. The fact that a government official would spew such misinformation frightens me. It is because of this fear that I am not using names.    

                  Misinformation about mental illness is dangerous. Would someone say that blood pressure medication or chemotherapy drugs are addicting? I highly doubt it. It is a lack of understanding and a lack of respect for those of us with mental illness. We don’t belong on work farms. I spent 26 years as a teacher. That is evidence that I can be vital member of the workforce despite living with a mental illness. Mental illness is just that. An illness. Mental illness needs to be treated by mental health professionals, not government officials. 

                  I chose to bring up this topic even though I had some fear about doing so because people with mental illness need a voice. If I can lend my voice to this issue, I am helping people living with an illness that often leaves us unable to speak up. Those of us with mental illness are often treated as if we are invisible. I choose to use my space here on my blog to make us visible, to give us a voice. I admit that I am scared about what could happen if certain government officials are allowed to make decisions without the guidance of mental healthcare professionals and without listening to those of us living with mental illness. I’ll end with this reminder. People with mental illness have the same rights as anyone else in this country. We deserve the same respect and care as people with other health conditions. We need to be vigilant. We need to stand up for ourselves and for those who are not able to stand up for themselves. 

                  My next post (Thursday, 4/17) will be lighter.